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Rhode    Island 

Historical     Society 

Collections 


Vol.  XXXII 


JANUARY,   1939 


^^       fW^^ 


PEWTER   FACTORY  OF  G.   RICHARDSON   AT  THE   CORNER 
PHENIX  AVENUE  AND   NATICK  ROAD  IN   CRANSTON,   R.   I. 


Si'f  Fcrgc'  1. 


Photograph  hx  Mr.  P.  J .  Franklin 


Issued  Quarterly 


68  Waterman  Street,  Providence,  Rhode  Island 


CONTENTS 


pac;l; 


G.  Richardson,  Cranston  Pewterer 

by  Madelaine  R.  Brown,  M.D.      .  .       Cover  &  1 


Coojoot,  a  Graphite  Mine 

by  Paul  Francis  Gleeson 


The  Journal  of  Capt.  Tillinghast 


The  Records  of  Rhode  Island 

bv  Edward  H.  West    .  .  .  .  .  16 


List  of  Members         ......  27 


New  Publications        .  .  .  .  .  .  32 


Notes         ........  32 


RHODE 
HISTORICAL 


ISLAND 

SOCIETY 


COLLECTIONS 


Vol.   XXXIl 


JANUARY,   1939 


No.   1 


Harry  Parsons  Cross,  President 
William  Davis  Miller,  Secretary 


Robert  T.  Downs,  Treasurer 
Howard  M.  Chapin,  Librarian 


The  Society  assumes  no  responsibility  for  the  statements  or  the  opinions 
of  contributors. 


G.  Richardson,  Cranston  Pewterer 

By  Madelaine  R.  Brown,  M.D. 

G.  Richardson  has  puzzled  collectors  of  American 
pewter  for  many  years.  The  name  appears  with  both  a 
Cranston  and  Boston  touchmark  and  it  has  been  assumed 
that  he  worked  in  both  places.  "Glennore  Company"  which 
appears  on  some  pieces  with  "Cranston"  remains  shrouded 
in  mystery.  George  Richardson  can  be  found  in  Boston 
records  from  1818-1830  and  it  is  known  where  he  lived 
and  worked  and  that  he  died  in  1830  at  the  age  of  83\ 
The  Cranston  and  Providence  county  records,  however, 
have  yielded  no  information  until  recently  a  George  W.  H. 
Richardson  was  found  in  the  Cranston  Tax  Book  for  1 860. 
He  paid  $1.50  on  personal  property  worth  $300.00.  He 
does  not  appear  either  in  the  1857  or  1870  book. 

This  information  is  due  to  Mrs.  M.  B.  Nickerson  of 
Cranston  who  had  known  a  member  of  the  Richardson 
family.  She  had  been  told  where  the  factory  was  situated 
and  that  Mr.  Richardson  had  failed  in  business.   The  fac- 


^  Watkins,  L.  W.  "George  Richardson,  Pewterer"  Antiques   31:19+ 
April  1937. 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


OLD    PICTURE   G.   RICHARDSON  S   PEWTER    FACTORY 
IN  CRANSTON,  R.  I. 


tory  was  used  later  for  other  purposes  but  must  have  been 
deserted  by  1885  as  shown  by  the  engraving  made  at  that 
time  (picture  above).  The  old  mill  stands  by  a  brook 
between  a  waterfall  and  bridge  along  with  two  factory 
houses  at  the  corner  of  Natick  and  Phenix  Avenues,  Crans- 
ton. The  side  walls  are  standing  but  not  the  end  walls  or 
roof  (picture  on  cover). 

The  sugar  bowls,  tea  pots,  pint  pot  and  pitcher  bearing 
the  Cranston  mark  are  well  made  but  appear  to  be  of  a  late 
design  and  could  hardly  have  been  made  before  1818  by 
the  Boston  G.  Richardson.  It  therefore  seems  evident  ihat 
there  were  two  American  pewterers  by  the  name  of  George 
Richardson  and  whether  they  were  related  or  not  remains 
unknown. 


v^ 


COOJOOT  —  A  GRAPHITE  MINE  3 

Coojoot  —  A  Graphite  Mine  Located  in 
South  Kingstown 

Paul  Francis  Gleeson 

On  the  west  bank  of  the  Narrow  River  between  Middle 
Bridge  and  Bridgeton  is  located  Side  Hill  Farm/  Here, 
in  the  town  of  South  Kingstown,  is  the  traditional  site  of 
the  black  lead  or  graphite  mine  called  Coojoot.' 

It  has  been  alleged  that  the  Indians  made  use  of  the 
graphite  outcroppings  in  days  before  the  coming  of  the 
white  men — possibly  as  a  source  for  a  blacking  material. 
The  first  mention  of  this  black  lead,  or  as  it  was  sometimes 
referred  to  "black  earth,"  is  to  be  found  in  the  writings 
of  Roger  Williams.  In  the  "Key  into  the  Language  of 
America"  he  records  the  Indian  word  "Metewis"  meaning 
"black  earth."''  At  the  same  time  he  makes  a  note  of  an 
Indian  town  named  "Metewemesick"*  as  being  situated  in 
western  Massachusetts.  Trumbell,  in  editing  a  later  edition 
of  the  "Key"  interprets  "black  earth"  as  referring  to  plum- 


^  In  order  to  reach  the  mine  site  it  is  necessary,  after  leaving  the  road, 
to  scramble  over  a  gate  and,  crossing  a  field,  to  climb  the  hill  for  a  short 
distance. 

"  There  are  at  least  three  variants  in  the  spelling  of  this  word.  a).  On 
page  13  of  his  "Indian  Names  of  Places  in  Rhode  Island"  Usher  Parsons 
uses  "Cajoot."  b).  "Cojoot"  is  used  by  Sidney  S.  Rider  in  "The  Lands 
of  Rhode  Island  as  the  Great  Sachems  Knew  Them"  page  140.  It  might 
be  of  interest  to  note  that  Mr.  Rider  misquotes  Dr.  Parsons  to  whom  he 
attributes  the  spelling  "Cajout."  Dr.  Parsons  gives  the  name  of  the 
black  lead  mine  as  "Cajoot"  [see  above  a).].  Rider  page  141  c).  On 
page  27  5  of  Potter's  "Early  Histor}'  of  Narragansett"  we  find  "Coojoot." 
The  writer  has  used  this  third  form  as  that  is  the  one  found  in  Potter's 
transcript  of  the  first  Pettiquamscut  Deed. 

^  Williams,  Roger  "Key  into  the  Language  of  America",  1936  edition 
page  192. 

^  Ibid. 


/// 


4  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

bago  or  graphite/'   In  the  same  note  he  shows  that  in  colo- 
nies other  than  Rhode  Island  there  was  an  interest  in  the 
possible  commercial  exploitation  of  this  mineral, — 
"In  1644,  John  Winthrop,  Jun.,  had  a  grant 
of  the  hill  at  Tantousq,  about  60  miles  westward 
(from  Boston),  in  which  the  black-leade  is."" 

This  aforementioned  deposit  would  probably  be  located 
somewhere  near  the  town  of  Sturbridge,  formerly  an  im- 
portant center  for  graphite. 

The  exact  purpose  for  which  the  Indians  used  graphite 
is  unknown.  It  is  quite  possible  that  it  was  used  for  color- 
ing purposes.  Williams'  references  to  "black  earth"  are 
included  in  his  chapter  entitled  "Of  their  paintings."  Here 
he  writes, — 

"They  paint  their  Garments,  &c. 

The  men  paint  their  Faces  in  Warre. 

Both  Men  and  Women  for  pride,  &c."' 

And  further, — 

"It  hath  been  the  foolish  Custome  of  all  bar- 
barous Nations  to  paint  and  hgure  their  Faces 
and  Bodies  (as  it  hath  been  to  our  shame  and 
griefe,  wee  may  remember  it  of  some  of  our 
Fore-Fathers  in  this  Nation.)"" 

Still  quoting  from  Williams  we  find  that  the  Indians  had 
the  word  "Mowi-sucki,""  meaning  black.  It  is  entirely 
possible  then  from  the  above  that  black  might  have  been 
discovered  occupying  an  important  place  in  a  seventeenth 
century  Indian  make-up  box.  It  is  also  possible  that  the 
ingredients  for  this  tinting  preparation  might  have  come 
from  some  black  lead  mine — possibly  from  Coojoot.  If 
these  suppositions  be  true  we  should  not,  following  Wil- 

^  Narragansett  Club  Publications,  Vol.  1  page  207  n  367. 

^  Ibid. 

^Williams,  op.  cit.  page   191. 

Mbid.  page    192. 

■•^  Ibid,  page   191. 


COOJOOT A  GRAPHITE  MIXE  5 

liams,  refer  to  the  Indians  as  "barbarous"  for  the  term 
"fashionable"  would  be  more  suitable.  In  support  of  this 
we  offer  the  following  quotation  taken  from  a  contem- 
porary book,  — 

"He  could  not  bear  the  sight  of  his  own  grey 
hairs,  and  therefore  used  a  black-lead  comb  to 
discolor  them."^" 

Although  the  Indians  may  very  well  have  had  other 
sources  for  their  graphite,  the  deposit  at  Coojoot  seems  to 
have  been  fairly  well  known  in  the  middle  sixteen  hundreds. 
It  is  specifically  referred  to  in  the  first  Pettiquamscut  Deed 
dated  January  20,  1657  where  we  find  that, — 

"They  also  grant  them  all  the  black  lead  in  this 
title  and  in  a  place  called  Coojoot."" 

Both  Judge  Potter  and  Sidney  Rider  locate  the  above  men- 
tioned deposit  as  being  near  the  Pettiquamscut  Rock  and 
at  the  foot  of  Tower  Hill.''  These  requirements  fit  the 
situation  of  Side  Hill  Farm  upon  which  is  found  the  tradi- 
tional site  of  Coojoot. 

The  mention  of  the  word  Coojoot  in  the  Pettiquamscut 
Deed  is  the  only  extant  use  of  that  word  in  the  seventeenth 
century.  The  most  probable  explanation  for  this  may  pos- 
sibly be  inferred  from  the  following  quotation  taken  out 
of  a  letter  sent  by  John  Winthrop  to  his  son  Fitz-John  in 
England.  Under  the  date  of  September  12,  1658  he  writes 
from  Boston, — 

" — there  is  some  blacklead  digged,  but  not  so 
much  as  they  expected,  it  being  very  difficult  to 
gett  out  of  the  rocks,  which  they  are  forced  to 
break  with  fires,  the  rocks  being  very  hard  and 
not  to  be  entered  further  than  the  fire  maketh 
way,  so  as  the  charge  hath  beene  so  greate  in  dig- 


^°  Murray's  Oxford  English  Dictionary,  "V'ol.  1,  pt.  2,  page  894. 
^^  Potter,  E.  R.,  "Early  History  of  Narragansctt",  page  275. 


Rider,  op.  cit.  pages  141-142. 


6  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

ging  of  it  that  I  am  like  to  have  no  profit  by  the 
same."^" 

Although  this  does  not  refer  to  Coojoot,  we  can  well  imag- 
ine the  same  situation  existing  here  in  Rhode  Island.  The 
crude  methods  of  extraction  and  the  low  quality  of  the 
graphite  may  have  operated  in  such  a  way  as  to  prevent 
the  profitable  exploitation  of  the  deposit.  It  is  certain  that 
if  Coojoot  had  been  operated  profitably  there  would  have 
been  many  more  references  to  it  than  have  been  found. 

To  find  the  next  reference  to  these  graphite  deposits  it 
is  necessary  to  come  down  to  1  840.  In  this  year  Charles  T. 
Jackson's  "Report  on  the  Geological  and  Agricultural 
Survey  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island"  contained  the  fol- 
lowing,— 

"Tower  Hill,  in  Kingston.  Plumbago  is  found 
here  in  several  places  and  has  been  wrought  to 
some  extent  for  supplying  moulding  dust  for  iron 
founders.  Thirty  tons  of  this  substance  have  been 
raised  at  one  time  by  digging  only  four  feet  into 
the  rocks  in  the  orchard,  upon  the  hill  side."^* 

It  may  be  inferred  from  the  above  that  these  deposits  were 
worked  to  some  extent  for  the  benefit  of  local  industry. 
Once  again,  however,  it  is  probable  that  these  operations 
were  not  on  any  large  scale,  possibly  owing  to  the  afore- 
mentioned profit  angle. 

Over  half  a  century  was  to  pass  before  another  serious 
attempt  was  to  be  made  at  operating  this  mine.  On  Sep- 
tember 9,  1887  Jesse  V.  B.  Watson  sold  the  Side  Hill 
Farm,  which  he  had  inherited  from  his  ancestors,  to  a 
Mrs.  Emma  Carver.  During  her  ownership  Mrs.  Carver 
executed  a  mining  franchise  to  a  graphite  company  which 
hoped  to  work  the  deposits.    It  is  believed  that  this  com- 

^^  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  Collections,  Fifth  Series,  \'ol.  \  III, 
pages  49-50. 

^*  Jackson,  C.  T.,  "Report  on  the  Geological  and  Agricultural  Survey 
of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island",  1840,  page  89. 


COOJOOT A  GRAPHITE  MINE  7 

pany  was  responsible  for  extending  and  deepening  the 
shafts  as  well  as  installing  a  narrow  gauge  railway  to  con- 
nect them.  Although  some  mining  was  done  and  although 
an  effort  was  made  to  float  stock  or  bonds  on  the  New  York 
market,  the  venture  was  unsuccessful  due  to  the  heavy 
expense  involved  and  the  small  chance  for  profit. 

Side  Hill  Farm  changed  owners  again  when  on  October 
9,  1908  it  was  purchased  by  Thomas  G.  Hazard,  Jr. 
of  Narragansett  from  Charles  Carver  and  J.  Henry  Carver, 
Executors  under  the  will  of  Emma  Carver.  A  few  years 
later  during  the  World  War  when  mineral  prices  were 
high  some  slight  interest  was  shown  in  the  possibility  of 
reopening  the  mine.  Once  again,  even  in  a  period  of  boom 
prices,  it  was  decided  that  the  mine  could  not  be  operated 
profitably.  Since  the  War  the  mine  has  been  left  undis- 
turbed and  bushes  and  weeds  have  gradually  begun  to  hide 
it  from  public  view.' ' 

^''  Information  contained  in  a  letter  to  the  writer  from  Mr.  Thomas  G. 
Hazard,   jr.,  dated  November  15,  1938. 


8  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


The  Journal  of  Capt.  Tillinghast' 

Thursday     Providence  Aug  23'^  1804 

At  7  "Clock  started  on  our  journey  from  R.  Durfee  arrivid 
at  Fisher  Tavern  1 5  Miles  avery  rougf  stone  &  hilly,  started 
@  Syz  "^Clock:  arivid  at  Eatons  in  Plainfield  @  7^  "Clock 
15  miles  the  chief  part  of  the  rode  good  30  miles 

24th  Started  at  6^  "Clock  Canterbury  4  miles  situated  on  a 
plesent  Hill  Scotland  meating  house  6  miles  Windham 
4  miles  the  County  Town  arrived  at  Staniford  (aj 
10  "Clock  rode  good  but  very  hilly  the  first  10  m.  the 
land  poor  and  full  of  small  round  stone  found  Wind- 
ham a  very  pleasent  &  handsome  Town  being  Court 
day  started  at  12  "Clock  pased  over  Windham  Brige 
land  poor  for  some  distance  at  3  "Clock  stops  @  J.  Roses 
Tavern  1 0  miles  from  Windham  past  over  Willymat- 
tock  Brige  the  river  being  low  saw  that  the  bend  of  the 
river  was  entirely  a  flatt  rock  saw  some  good  meadow 

1.  Capt.  William  E.  Tillinghast,  the  author  of  this  interesting,  though 
hardly  important,  journal  was  a  native  of  Providence.  He  was  engaged  in  the 
West  Indian  trade  during  the  last  quarter  of  the  eighteenth  and  the  first 
two  decades  of  the  nineteenth  centuries.  At  various  times  he  was  owner 
or  part  owner  In  many  vessels,  including  the  ship  Fciir  American,  the 
brigs  Hunter,  Planter,  Argus  and  Commerce,  and  the  schooner  Polly. 
He  was  on  board  the  Planter  when,  as  he  expresses  it,  she  "upset"  off  the 
coast  of  North  Carolina. 

Tillinghast  was  a  descendant  of  Pardon  Tillinghast  who  settled  in 
Frenchtown  during  the  latter  years  of  the  seventeenth  century  and  would 
seem  to  have  spent  a  good  deal  of  his  time  ashore  in  that  part  of  the  state. 
He  married  Amey  Mawney  daughter  of  Pardon  and  Experience  (Gardi- 
ner) Mawney  of  Frenchtown.  It  was  to  visit  his  wife's  relations  that  this 
journey  to  New  York  State  was  made. 

The  journal  is  preserved  in  both  its  rough  form  and  the  rewritten 
"fair"  copy.  There  are  certain  variations  between  the  two,  some  of  which 
are  herewith  noted.  Capt.  Tillinghast's  life  at  sea  is  evidenced  by  much  of 
the  phraseology  of  the  writing — but  it  cannot  account  for  his  erratic 
spelling.  His  ships  papers  and  ledgers  &c.  are  now  in  the  John  Carter 
Brown  Library.  W.  D.  M. 


THE  JOURNAL  OF  CAPT.  TILLINGHAST  9 

land  on  the  banks  of  the  river  the  up  land  in  generall 
poor,  at  5^  "Clock  started  from  Roses  in  the  town  of 
Coventy  in  Tollon  County  for  Woodbureys  {Tavern) 

34  East  Hartford  1 0  miles  arrived  at  8  "Clock  avery  pleas- 
ent  place  and  a  good  house  &  fare  come  down  one  every 
Steap  hill  rode  narrow  and  high  mountain  on  both  sides 

25th  Started  at  6^  "Clock  arrived  at  Goodwins  in  the 
Capital  of  East  Harford  at  8  "Clock  8  miles  and  one 
from  the  Ferrey  not  any  thing  of  good  fare  a  very 
handsome  place  streat  wide  with  a  row  of  Elm  trees  in 
the  midle.  started  at  %V2  "Clock  to  the  Ferrey  1  mile 
crosed  the  Ferrey  which  was  much  narrower  then  I 
expected  to  have  found  arrived  at  Lee's  Tavern  Har- 
ford City  at  10  "Clock  found  it  a  much  larger  place 
then  expect'^  and  avery  elegent  Court  House  Business 
appeard  to  be  brisk,  started  from  Lee's  at  3  "Clock 
a  very  poor  fare  for  a  City  Tavern  Stop*^  at  Windsor  at 
A-^A  "Clock  7  miles  started  at  5  "Clock  arrived  at  Suffield 
Col.  Kent's  lA  mile  south  of  the  Meating  house  @ 
7^  "Clock  miles/Sixes  Stage  House/  the  rodes 
good  and  land  chief  part  of  the  way  very  sandy  &  poor 
timberd  with  Pines  W.  Burch  &  shrub  Oak  for  4  miles 
no  house 

Sunday  26th  Started  at  6  "Clock  for  Westfield  through 
Springfield  whare  are  plenty  of  Orchards  and  trees  full 
of  frute  the  hrst  part  of  the  rode  good  the  latter  part 
very  bad  crost  over  the  Toll  Brige  and  kep  the  river 
rode  and  the  worst  since  our  departure  arrived  at 
Eldriges  Stage  office  Westfield  @  9]^  "Clock  liy. 
miles  it  raining  fast  put  up  for  the  remainder  of  the 
day.  N.B.  enquire  of  Westfield  feading  Hills"  to  avoid 
the  North  Hampton  rode  or  you  will  goe  20  miles 
further  to  Albaney  then  is  necsary 

27.  Started  at  9  "Clock  after  being  well  entertaind  pro- 
ceded  on  the  rode  to  beckett  up  the  river  Turnpike 

2.     \Vh;it  are  "feading  Hills?" 


10  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

rode  to  Pittsfield  clost  on  the  bank  of  the  river  and  a 
very  good  rode  arrived  at  Chester  Whave  is  a  very- 
good  store  of  goods  kept  took  the  left  hand  rode  stop 
at  E.  Leonard's  G,  mountains  whare  we  could  get 
nothing  but  damag''  shad''  &  potatoes  rest''  the  Horses 
arrived  at  1  "Clock  1  8  miles  started  at  3^^  °Clock  started 
@  3y2  "Clock  arrived  at  Nobles  at  6  "Clock  in  the 
Town  of  Washington  rainy  afternoon  and  poor  Fare 
NB  this  day  came  over  the  Green  mountains  which  has 
the  appearence  of  the  uncleard  mountains  of  the  west 
Indies  and  some  very  high  the  chief  parts  of  this  days 
ride  through  mountains  but  the  rode  much  better  than 
could  be  expect^ 

28th  Started  at  6JX  "Clock  for  Mericks  in  Pittsfield  arrived 
at  8>^  "Clock  38  miles  from  Westfield  Reading  Hills 
came  down  one  steap  Hill  1  mile  Long  in  the  valley 
Pittsfield  is  situated  a  very  pleasent  place  and  land 
good,  found  good  far.  Started  at  10  'Clock  at  12j/2 
"Clock  arriv'd  at  Colts  in  Lebenon  a  good  Hour  clost 
by  the  Springs  went  up  and  took  a  view  of  them  and 
aperd  to  be  good  Boarding  came  over  a  mountain  S'^ 
to  be  1 34  "^ilc  ^'"id  ""i  some  places  very  steap  walk  up 
when  on  top  ther  is  one  of  the  handsomest  prospect 
that  I  ever^saw  the  farms  abought  Lebenon  laying  on 
the  side  of  a  hill  opposite  the  mountain  walk''  down  hill 
it  being  so  steap  did  not  think  it  safe  to  ride  and  gave 
us  a  good  swet  it  being  very  hot  7j/2  miles  from  Mer- 
icks. started  from  Colts  at  3^  "Clock  a  good  hour, 
arrived  at  Coons  20  miles  at  9  "Clock  a  dam''  Durty 
ugly  house  and  no  accomadations.  N.B.  2  miles  farther 
towards  the  City  of  Albany  is  a  very  good  house  rodes 
good 

29th  Started  at  63^  "Clock  crost  the  Ferrey  arrived  at  Skin- 
ners in  Albaney  at  8^  "Clock  pleasent  Weather  7  miles 
much  disapponted  in  the  vew  of  the  City  the  harbour 

3.     Rough  copy  states:  "dined  upon  dam  bad  shad  and  potatoes  .  .  .  ." 


C        S.  DEMAREST.  \ 


^  ^^'^'O^'^-.,. 


^  —        1^^^ 

/  UNION  \ 

I  COFFEE-   !• 

\  HOUSE.  / 

K -^ =.^ 

FORMERLY  SIGN  OF  THE  LION, 

WATERFOKD^SARATOGA  COUNTS. 


12  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

is  avery  handsome  elbow  the  Wharves  all  join  except 
three  gap  ways  for  people  to  land  a  great  many  good 
stores  on  the  whaves  a  great  maney  old  fashion  Dutch 
Buildings  some  handsome  Churches  Started  at  3  "Clock 
arrived  at  Pearces  in  Troy  at  4  °Clock  a  very  pleasent 
place  and  good  stores  hear  we  crost  the  Ferrey  6  miles 
from  Albaney  started  at  6  "Clock  for  Lanungburg 
arrivd  at  Johnson  &  Judsons  Taven  a  good  house  3 
miles  from  Troy 

30th  at  6  "Clock  stated  crost  the  ferrey  at  Waterford  whare 
is  amost  capitall  Brige  a  building  4  arches  proceded  up 
to  the  Cohows  on  the  Mohowk  river  took  avew  of  the 
Falls  the  Banks  on  each  side  very  high  and  allmost 
perpendicular  the  rock  that  forms  the  fall  is  allmost  in 
a  streight  line  cross  the  river  after  takeing  a  vew 
returnd  to  Warterford  to  Breckfast  at  S.  Demarest 
Union  Coffee  House,  at  9  "Clock  started  for  Ballstown 
20  miles  stop  at  "^  tavern  a  poor  house  at 

SY2  "Clock  arrived  at  Jesse  Patchen  a  bought  one  half 
mile  to  the  Northward  of  the  Court  House  found  it  a 
plesant  place  and  land  good  — 

31st  This  morning  took  in  M"  Mawney^  and  started  for 
Ballstown  springs  2  miles  at  which  place  found  Moses 
Titcomb  Esq""  of  S'  Croix  all  most  dead  so  low  that 
scarsly  to  be  under  stood  took  a  Drink  of  warter  vew'' 
the  place  whare  are  a  number  of  most  elegent  Bording 
Houses  then  proceded  on  for  Saritoga  1 2  miles  put  up 
at  M''  Lees  inn  took  a  drink  of  warter  vew*^  the  spring  & 
Bathing  house  dined  took  M''*  H.  Tillinghast"  and 
proced  on  to  Northumberland.  M''  Mawney  &  Almey" 


+.    The  omission  is  Tillinghast's. 

5.  His  wife's  sister-in-law,  wife  of  Peter  Mawney  (LeMoine)  who  died 
in  Moreau,  Saratoga  County,  New  York  in  1  868  aged  95. 

6.  Mrs.  Hannah  (Mawney)  Tillinghast  wife  of  Nicholas  (NT).   After 
his  death  she  married  Jeffrey  Davis  of  Davisville,  being  his  second  wife. 

7.  Mrs.  William  E.  Tillinghast. 


14  RHODE  ISLAXD  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

returnd  to  Ballstown  arrived  early  in  the  eavning  at 
Cap'  P.  L.  Mawney*  at  Beach  mapple  wood  12  miles 
found  Peter  &  Nickholas  welP.  Nichlas  building  a  new 
House  found  a  much  plesent  a  place  then  I  expect"^  the 
rodes  good  but  too  narrow  for  our  Carage  the  stumps 
interfering  and  the  cross  ways  of  logs  maney  of  which 
we  had  to  cross  joilting  most  teribbey  of  which  M"^* 
Tillinghast  Complaind  the  land  of  clay  and  coverd 
with  a  very  thin  mould.  Timber  Pine  Hemlock  & 
mapple. 

Sep''  P'  This  day  walking  round  vewing  the  Cuntry  at  9 
°Clock  tackled  up  went  to  sea  Elisha  Reynolds^°  on  the 
Bank  of  the  North  River  3  mile  the  bed  of  the  river 
apperd  to  be  entirly  a  flatt  rock  the  river  low  and 
narrow  a  plenty  of  mud  Tortoise  found  M'  Reynolds  a 
very  agreable  man  returnd  at  12^  "Clock  this  after- 
noon a  Justic  Court  held  by  Major  Scovill  at  which  a 
great  many  assembl'^  and  murderd  Rum  without  dis- 
cretion found  the  Cuntry  dry  and  very  poor  warter  in 
generall  So  Ends  this  day 

2d  this  day  begins  with  very  foggey  morning  (^  9  "Clock 
clear  &  warm  went  to  meating  @  the  School  House 
clost  at  hand  at  2  P  M  started  for  Glans  Falls  8  miles 
one  of  the  gratest  curiositys  that  I  have  sean  a  number 
of  Saw  mills  a  good  Brige  and  a  wild  looking  place  at 
7  "Clock  returnd  Home  and  went  to  bed 
Monday  Sep*"  3*^  This  day  begins  with  a  foggey  morning 
the  midle  part  clear  and  very  hot  the  latter  part  cloudy 
with  light  rain 

Tuesday  4"'  Sept.  This  day  at  10  "Clock  started  for 
Ballstown  22  miles  stop  at  Homes  &  Kamp  at  Congress 
springs  went  to  vew  the  same  found  then  the  most 
curios  of  any  that  I  had  sean  their  being  a  hole  in  the 

8.  Possibly  son  of  Peter  named  Pardon  (P.  L.  M.) 

9.  See  notes  5  and  6 

10.  Descendant  of  Col.  Elisha  Reynolds  of  South  Kingstown. 


THE  JOURNAL  OF  CAPT.  TILLIXGHAST  15 

top  of  a  Rock  abought  10  or  12  Inches  diameter  and 
four  feet  deep  whare  we  baled  out  the  warter  after 
diner  started  for  Ballstown  springs  found  on  enquirey 
that  M.  Titcomb  dec*^  on  Saturday  morning  at  2  "Clock 
from  thence  to  M''  Patchens  whare  I  found  Almey  well 
that  the  spring  warter  would  not  answer  for  her  to 
make  use  off 

Wednesday  5th  This  day  went  down  to  ball  town  Court 
House  to  Traning  took  a  vew  of  the  Rigment  returnd 
to  M'"  Patchens  to  diner  and  from  their  home  and  maid 
ready  for  a  start  in  the  morning 

Thursday  6*^'  This  morning  turnd  out  at  day  light  got 
Brackfast  and  started  for  Northumberland  leaving 
Amey  at  M''"  Patchen  to  recute  arrived  at  2  "Clock  20 
miles 

Friday  7.  this  fornoon  employd  in  cleaning  Harness  & 
Chase  weather  hott  &  dry — this  afternoon  went  up  to 
vew  Fort  Edward  on  the  E.  side  of  the  N  river  found 
the  remains  of  a  large  fort  which  appeard  to  be  built  of 
wood  &  dirt  abought  20  feet  high  and  a  trench  of  the 
same  width.  5  miles 

Saturday  8.  This  day  went  to  Gen''  Training  at  M*"" 
Hinckley's  abought  600  Troops  girls  plenty  in  the 
Barn  a  Dancing  returnd  at  5^  "Clock  plenty  drunck 
this  day  6^  mile  Palmertown  alis  Northumberland 

Sunday  9th  This  day  very  warm  and  dry  went  to  meating 
with  M'',  E.  Reynolds  nothing  worthy  of  notic  this  day" 

Monday  1 0  this  day  begins  very  foggey  and  thick  hevy-are 
made  a  Jack,  help  N.  Tillinghast  pack  up  his  things 
and  move  to  his  own  house  in  the  afternoon  put  the 
mare  in  the  Gig  carried  Hanah  up  found  it  late  con- 
cludd  to  tarrey  so  Ends  this  day  cloudy 

Tuesday  1 1  This  day  begins  with  heavy  rain,  conpl'^  in 
cording  up  Beadsteds  makeing  bed  winch  &c  so  Ends 
this  day  continuing  rainy 


16  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Wednesday  1 2  This  day  begins  with  light  spits  of  rain  at 
7  held  up  at  1 0  °Clock  tackl'^  up  and  retund  to  P.  L.  M. 
compl*^  makeing  hog  pen  &  wash  binch  so  Ends  this 
day  with  cloudy  weather 

Thursday  1 3  This  day  commences  with  rainy  weather  the 
ground  being  clay  makes  it  slippry  as  glass  later  part 
more  moderate  finish'^  hog  pen  so  ends  this  day 

Friday  14  This  day  commence  cloudy  at  12  °Clock  clear 
greast  wheeals  and  started  for  Balltown  with  M''s  Maw- 
ney  went  in  and  took  the  shower  bath  at  Lee's  arrived 
at  Balltown  at  sundown  found  A.  T.  so  so 

Saturday  15  This  day  fare  weather  tackl''  up  took  in  Amey 
and  proceded  for  Northumberland  stop  at  Homes  & 
Kamps  after  dinner  proceded  on  stop  at  N.  T  arrived 
at  P.  L.  M.  at  sunsett. 

(To  be  continued) 


The  Records  of  Rhode  Island.* 

By  Edward  H.  West 

In  order  to  understand  the  records  of  a  state,  it  would 
seem  as  if  one  should  first  understand  something  about 
the  history  of  that  state,  so  I  want  to  speak  on  Rhode 
Island's  history  before  we  take  up  the  records. 

The  people  living  outside  New  England  know  very  little 
about  its  history,  that  is  to  say  the  details  which  are  so 
different  from  those  of  other  parts  of  this  country.  And 
in  picking  out  New  England  as  an  example,  I  do  not  except 
other  sections  of  this  country.  I  imagine  that  the  people 
of  the  Southern  States,  although  well  versed  in  the  history 
of  their  own  section,  know  very  little  about  the  history  of 
the  north  western  states,  while  the  people  of  California 
know  very  little  about  the  history  of  Michigan. 


♦Given  at  The  National  Genealogical  Society,  Washington,  D.  C, 
19  March,  1938. 


THE  RECORDS  OF  RHODE  ISLAND  1/ 

Of  course  we  all  learned  a  general  idea  of  history  before 
our  high  school  days,  but  the  time  in  school  is  too  short 
to  get  any  details,  and  when  the  time  comes  to  look  up 
ancestry,  the  history  that  we  learned  in  school  does  not 
serve  us  very  well. 

One  of  my  regrets  is  that  there  is  practically  no  local 
history  taught  in  the  schools.  Having  occasion  to  go  to 
Walpole,  Massachusetts,  some  years  ago,  I  found  that  the 
local  historian  there,  who  had  written  a  very  fine  history 
of  the  town,  every  year  presented  a  copy  of  the  history  to 
each  high  school  graduate. 

A  genealogical  book  without  any  history  in  it  makes 
rather  dry  reading,  and  this  also  applies  to  the  family 
histories,  written  by  so  many  people  who  seem  to  think 
that  all  that  is  necessary  is  to  get  dates.  Do  not  be  satisfied 
to  write  that  such  an  ancestor  was  a  colonel  in  the  Revolu- 
tion :  find  out  what  he  did.  If  there  were  those  who  thought 
that  he  was  not  efficient,  put  that  in  as  well  as  their  reasons. 
Should  an  ancestor  help  to  found  a  new  town,  then  try  to 
get  some  of  the  town  records.  Anything  like  this  will 
brighten  up  a  family  story  in  a  surprising  manner. 

Early  in  1630,  there  came  to  Boston,  from  England,  a 
woman  who  did  much  to  start  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Island. 
This  woman  was  Anne  Hutchinson,  who,  with  her  husband, 
came  over  to  what  they  supposed  was  a  place  for  religious 
freedom,  but  they  were  mistaken.  Boston  did  allow  reli- 
gious freedom  as  long  as  you  worshiped  in  the  way  that 
the  judges  and  ministers  said,  but  in  no  other  way.  It  is 
doubtful  if  even  the  most  advanced  theological  student  of 
today  can  fully  understand  the  differences  in  the  beliefs  of 
the  early  settlers  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony. 

Anne  Hutchinson  was  born  much  too  soon,  for  she  be- 
lieved in  a  woman's  taking  part  in  the  religious  discussions. 
She  started  to  explain  the  sermons  of  the  Sunday  before 
to  a  few  woman  friends,  and  gradually  the  circle  grew, 
until  at  times  there  were  as  many  as  eighty  persons,  both 
men  and  women,  at  her  meetings.    This  did  not  suit  the 


18  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

ministry  of  Boston,  as  her  opinions  did  not  coincide  with 
theirs.  Time  will  not  permit  us  to  go  into  the  matter  with 
any  detail,  but  it  is  enough  to  say  that  there  were  many 
debates,  court  trials,  church  trials,  the  ex-communication  of 
Anne  Hutchinson,  and  more  debates,  until  finally  the  Gen- 
eral Court  gave  orders  that  the  heads  of  the  families  of  Anne 
Hutchinson's  followers,  about  seventy  five  in  number,  were 
to  be  disarmed,  "in  order  to  prevent  riots." 

These  men  were  of  all  walks  of  life,  some  were  mem- 
bers of  the  General  Court,  some  merchants,  while  others 
were  artisans. 

It  would  seem  as  if  some  of  these  men  had  discussed  the 
founding  of  a  new  colony  even  before  the  order  of  dis- 
armament came,  and  it  is  supposed  that  these  meetings  took 
place  at  the  house  of  William  Coddington,  who  was  prob- 
ably the  richest  man  of  them  all. 

Dr.  John  Clark  was  one  of  the  men  who  started  off  to 
find  a  site  for  their  new  colony,  and  they  eventually  chose 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Island  of  Rhode  Island. 

Originally  they  intended  to  settle  on  Long  Island  or 
else  in  Delaware,  but  by  the  advice  of  Roger  Williams, 
they  looked  at  the  Island  of  Aquidneck,  and  after  finding 
from  Plymouth  that  the  Island  was  not  in  their  patent, 
they  bought  the  Island  from  the  Indians.  The  Colony  of 
Rhode  Island  arose,  not  from  any  grant  by  the  king,  but 
by  purchases. 

Before  leaving  Boston,  these  men  signed  their  Compact, 
and  elected  their  officers. 

The  first  town  meeting  in  their  new  home  was  held 
13  May  1638,  and  from  that  date  to  the  present,  we  have 
an  uninterrupted  set  of  records. 

At  first  all  business  was  transacted  at  the  town  meetings, 
held  quarterly,  with  many  special  meetings.  But  as  the 
Colony  grew,  these  meetings  became  too  unweildly  to 
transact  everything,  and  so  a  Town  Council  was  formed 
which  transacted  much  of  the  business  of  the  town,  includ- 
ing the  duties  of  a  Probate  Court. 


THE  RECORDS  OF  RHODE  ISLAND  19 

At  the  early  town  meetings  many  laws  were  made,  some 
of  them  being  still  in  force.  The  land  laws  are  very  inter- 
esting, and  were  changed  as  the  occasion  demanded. 

One  of  the  early  laws  concerned  the  price  of  land  on  the 
Island,  which  was  set  at  two  shillings  per  acre,  which  price 
was  used  as  long  as  there  was  any  land  left  to  sell. 

Because  there  was  not  an  unlimited  amount  of  land  on  the 
Island  as  there  was  on  the  mainland,  the  farms  were  com- 
paratively small,  but  the  land  was  all  used,  while  on  sec- 
tions of  the  mainland,  where  large  grants  were  given,  much 
of  the  land  was  not  used,  and  is  not  even  today. 

Eventually,  as  the  number  of  inhabitants  grew,  land  east 
of  Connecticut  was  purchased  and  added  to  the  Colony, 
this  being  settled  by  men  from  the  Providence  Plantations 
as  well  as  men  from  the  Island. 

The  first  records  of  Rhode  Island  are  to  be  found  in 
Providence  in  a  book  containing  the  Compact,  copies  of  the 
deeds  of  land  purchased  from  the  Indians,  early  lists  of 
Freemen  of  the  Colony,  and  many  land  grants  and  transac- 
tions of  the  early  settlers.  This  book  contains  records  from 
1638  to  about  1696. 

There  are  also  many  other  early  records  in  Providence, 
all  in  charge  of  the  Secretary  of  State.  These  consist  of  all 
records  of  the  General  Assembly,  several  books  of  land 
evidence,  a  very  complete  set  of  Revolutionary  and  Mari- 
time records,  and  thousands  of  petitions  to  the  General 
Assembly,  embracing  every  cause  possible. 

The  first  book  of  Portsmouth  shows  signs  of  wear,  as 
some  of  its  pages  have  been  torn,  and  probably  others  are 
missing.  This  book  contains  the  records  of  the  early  town 
meetings,  as  well  as  some  deeds  and  wills.  Here  too  are 
the  first  grants,  so  called.  Not  really  grants,  but  assigned 
lots  which  were  paid  for. 

From  this  book  to  date  the  town  meeting  records  are 
complete,  as  are  also  the  town  council  records. 

The  first  book  of  Land  Evidence  covers  transactions  in 
land  from  1 646  to   1 704.    There  are  also  a  few  wills  in 


20  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

this  book.  As  some  of  the  early  grants  and  deeds  were  in 
Providence,  John  Sanford  was  ordered,  in  1657,  to  tran- 
scribe them  into  the  Portsmouth  book.  He  died  that  year, 
and  nothing  was  done  about  it  until  1930,  when  the  Town 
Council  of  Portsmouth,  through  the  efforts  of  your  speaker, 
appropriated  money  for  photostats  of  these  records.  Ports- 
mouth has  now  practically  a  complete  set  of  land  records. 
The  records  of  Newport  are  not  in  such  good  shape  as 
those  of  Portsmouth,  and  with  good  reason.  When  the 
British  left  Rhode  Island,  the  records  were  taken  with 
them  by  the  Tory  Town  Clerk  of  Newport.  The  vessel 
on  which  these  records  were  carried  was  sunk  off  Hell  Gate, 
and  although  she  was  soon  raised  and  towed  in,  the  records 
were  wet.  Newport  sent  a  protest  to  the  British  officers  in 
New  York,  and  the  records  were  returned,  but  in  all  prob- 
ability the  boxes  were  not  opened  at  once.  In  fact  it  was  a 
number  of  years  after  that  the  Town  Council  of  Newport 
hired  a  man  to  separate  the  pages.  These  records  have  all 
been  mounted  in  silk,  and  it  is  very  interesting  to  see  the 
results  of  the  salt  water  on  the  various  kinds  of  paper  and 
ink.  Some  of  the  records  are  as  legible  as  the  day  on  which 
they  were  written,  while  others  are  faded  completely. 

Middletown,  set  off  from  Newport  in  1 744,  has  a  com- 
plete set  of  records.  In  one  of  the  Town  Council  books,  the 
Town  Clerk  is  ordered,  in  1776,  to  place  the  records  in  a 
safe  place,  if  danger  threatens,  which  he  probably  did  as 
they  are  still  in  existence. 

The  Island  of  Rhode  Island  was  occupied  by  the  British 
for  three  years,  and  they  burned  and  tore  down  many 
buildings,  but  some  one  looked  after  the  records,  and  by 
his  foresight  we  have  them  today.  It  has  always  been  a 
source  of  wonderment  to  me  where  the  Portsmouth  records 
were  hidden  during  the  occupation,  as  that  town  lost  more 
buildings  than  either  of  the  others.  Besides  the  books  of 
records  there  were  many  loose  papers,  and  it  would  have 
been  well,  if  all  those  in  charge  of  records,  in  different 
parts  of  the  country  in  after  years,  had  followed  the  example 


THE  RECORDS  OF  RHODE  ISLAND  21 

set  by  these  town  clerks  of  Rhode  Island,  and  guarded 
their  records. 

One  very  interesting  page  in  both  the  Town  Meeting 
and  Town  Council  books  of  Portsmouth,  is  written  in  a 
very  large  and  flowing  hand,  and  undated.   It  reads — 

"On  Sunday  ye  8th  Day  of  December  A.D.  1 776  About 
Eight  Thousand  Troops  landed  and  took  possession  of 
the  Island  and  Remained  until  Monday  ye  25th  Day  of 
October  A.D.  1779,  for  which  time  the  Inhabitants  were 
greatly  Oppressed." 

It  is  not  necessary  to  state  that  during  the  occupation, 
no  town  business  was  transacted. 

When  I  say  the  records  are  complete,  I  do  not  mean  the 
vital  records,  although  these  are  very  much  better  than  in 
most  of  the  other  sections  of  the  country.  Almost  at  the 
very  first,  both  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts  passed 
laws  for  the  recording  of  births,  marriages  and  deaths,  but 
there  were  no  teeth  in  these  laws  and  they  were  not  enforced. 
Some  of  the  people  recorded  everything,  while  others  did 
not  bother  at  all.  I  know  of  one  man  who  recorded  the 
births  of  half  his  children  and  his  marriage,  at  one  time, 
but  did  not  go  back  to  record  the  births  of  the  rest  of  his 
children.  In  1850  Rhode  Island  passed  another  law  re- 
garding these  vital  records,  so  from  that  time  the  records 
are  nearly  complete. 

The  unit  of  government  in  Rhode  Island  was  the  town. 
Therefore  all  records  pertaining  to  any  one  town  are  to 
be  found  in  that  town.  This  would  seem  to  make  it  harder 
to  trace  people  when  compared  to  the  county  government 
of  other  states,  and  this  is  true  in  regards  to  travel.  But  the 
town  council  records  with  their  inventories,  wills  and  other 
probate  papers,  give  information  with  an  intimacy  which 
is  not  found  in  the  county  records  of  other  states. 

The  records  of  Bristol  County,  Little  Compton  and 
Tiverton  start  in  1747,  as  before  that  date  those  towns 
were  in  Massachusetts,  where  the  earlier  records  are  to  be 
found.  One  has  but  to  compare  the  probate  records  of  these 


22  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

towns  before  and  after  1 747  to  see  the  truth  of  my  former 
statement. 

North  Kingston  had  a  fire  which  damaged  its  early 
records,  and  although  they  have  been  repaired,  many  of 
the  pages  are  oval  in  shape,  and  this  in  many  cases,  results 
in  the  loss  of  the  name  or  date.  This  town  is  a  hard  one 
to  work  in,  but  if  one  sticks  to  it,  a  great  deal  can  be  found. 

Two  books  of  the  town  of  Richmond  are  missing,  and 
the  story  about  this  is  that  the  town  clerk  of  that  period 
was  very  eccentric  and  kept  the  records  in  a  box  under  a 
window.  This  caused  talk  among  the  town's  people  who 
wished  their  records  kept  in  a  safer  place.  They  formed  a 
committee  to  visit  the  town  clerk  and  to  reason  with  him. 
When  he  saw  the  men  approaching  he  started  to  burn  the 
books,  and  this  is  supposed  to  account  for  the  missing  books. 

In  the  Providence  city  hall  is  a  very  fine  collection  of 
old  papers  called  the  Providence  Town  Papers.  These 
comprise  bills,  receipts,  deeds,  laws,  and  all  kinds  of  rec- 
ords imaginable,  not  only  of  the  town  of  Providence,  but 
of  the  whole  state.  These  are  mounted  in  silk  and  are 
indexed  by  subjects. 

I  will  give  one  instance  in  which  these  papers  were  very 
valuable  to  me.  Capt.  Jonathan  Brownell,  who  raised  the 
first  militia  company  in  Portsmouth  at  the  start  of  the 
Revolution,  disappeared  after  the  British  troops  came  to 
Portsmouth,  and  I  was  unable  to  find  any  trace  of  him  for 
several  years,  when  he  enlisted  in  Freetown.  As  I  knew 
a  man  of  his  calibre  would  not  hide,  and  as  I  could  find  no 
record  of  him  with  the  Rhode  Island  troops,  it  was  long 
a  puzzle  to  me  as  to  what  had  become  of  him  during  those 
years.  A  Quaker  by  birth,  he  was  dismissed  from  meeting 
on  account  of  having  raised  troops. 

In  the  above  mentioned  Providence  Town  Papers,  I  found 
that  he  had  come  to  Providence  and  had  been  taken 
down  with  the  small-pox.  There  was  a  bill  for  doctor's 
care,  nursing  and  medicine,  and  also  the  information  that 
he  had  worked  off  most  of  this  bill  by  going  to  war  as  sub- 


THE  RECORDS  OF  RHODE  ISLAND  23 

stitute  for  Moses  Brown,  a  very  prominent  Rhode  Island 
Quaker. 

The  Friends  Records  in  Newport  date  from  1 657,  and  a 
vast  amount  of  information  is  to  be  found  in  them. 

I  would  like  to  show  here  a  few  of  the  early  Portsmouth 
records. 

In  regard  to  land,  the  following  law  was  passed  in  1638: 
"It  is  ordered  and  agreed  upon  that  every  man's  allot- 
ment recorded  in  this  book  shall  be  sufficient  evidence  for 
him  and  his,  rightly  to  possess  and  enjoy." 

At  a  General  Court  of  Elections,  Portsmouth,  May 
1647,  is  shown  how  these  men  regarded  their  records,  and 
their  feeling  is  not  matched,  to  my  knowledge,  any  where 
in  this  country. 

"Be  it  enacted  by  these  present  Assemblie,  that  the  Gen- 
eral Recorders  office  shall  be  in  General,  to  have  Coppies 
of  all  the  records  or  Acts  of  the  Generall  Assemblie, 
Generall  and  particular  Courts  of  Judicature,  Rolls  of  the 
Freemen  of  the  Colonie,  Records,  Sales  and  Bargains  of 
Land,  Wills  and  Testaments,  and  orders  of  the  Townsmen 
touching  the  Intestate,  Records  of  the  Limetts  and  Bounds 
of  Towns,  their  Highways,  Driftways,  Commons  and 
Fencing,  Privileges  and  Liberties.  And  for  as  much  as 
matters  of  greatest  concernment  ought  to  be  kept  and  pre- 
served with  the  greatest  vigilance:  Be  it  enacted  that  the 
Generall  purchases  (which  are  all  we  can  show  for  our 
right  to  our  Lands)  and  the  Charter  (which  is  that  which 
gives  us  who  are  Subjects,  right  to  exercise  authority  over 
one  another )  be  kept  in  a  strong  chest,  having  four  several 
Locks  annexed  thereto,  and  that  each  town  keep  a  key 
thereof,  that  so  as  there  is  a  common  right  and  interest 
therein,  there  may  be  no  access  unto  them  in  a  divided 
way  (lest  also  they  be  divided )  but  with  a  common  consent. 
And  let  it  further  be  enacted,  that  this  chest  be  kept  in  the 
safest  place  in  the  Colonie:  and  the  Generall  Recorder, 
also,  should  have  the  key  to  the  Room  in  which  it  is  placed," 

It  might  be  well  to  speak  about  the  Rhode  Island  Char- 


24  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

ters.  The  one  mentioned  in  the  above  record  is  the  first 
charter.  The  second  charter  was  granted  in  1663.  Much 
has  been  written  about  the  Connecticut  Charter  and  how  it 
escaped  the  clutches  of  Andros,  by  way  of  the  famous  oak 
tree,  but  very  little  is  heard  of  the  Charter  of  Rhode  Island, 
which  is  acknowledged  to  have  been  the  most  liberal  of  that 
of  any  of  England's  colonies.  To  be  sure  Andros  demanded 
it,  but  never  saw  it.  It  was  lost,  found,  on  the  way,  lost 
again,  and  all  kinds  of  excuses  made,  but  it  was  safely 
hidden,  and  probably  no  one  today  knows  where  it  really 
was  during  those  troublesome  years  of  Andros'  reign. 
That  it  was  safely  hidden  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  today 
it  hangs,  in  a  special  safe,  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of 
the  State  of  Rhode  Island. 

In  1656  a  law  was  passed  forbidding  any  person  to  sell 
any  liquor  to  an  Indian,  either  "directly  or  indirectly," 
and  it  was  made  lawful  for  any  person  who  met  an  Indian 
with  liquor,  to  take  it  away  from  him. 

In  the  early  days  strangers  were  not  looked  upon  as 
desirable  unless  they  bought  land,  or  else  brought  a  cer- 
tificate from  their  last  legal  place  of  abode,  which  showed, 
that  in  time  of  need,  they  would  be  taken  back  again. 
Those  old  settlers  intended  to  keep  their  relief  problems 
at  a  minimum. 

In  1654  it  was  ordered  "that  no  inhabitant  shall  enter- 
tain any  Sojourner  above  one  month  without  the  approba- 
tion of  the  Towne." 

In  1658  it  is  ordered  "that  Roger  Williams  shall  have 
liberty  of  the  Towne  for  to  live  with  William  Wodell 
house  till  the  5th  of  November  en-suen  the  date  hereof: 
and  no  longer  by  the  Towne  order." 

In  this  Colony,  Church  and  State  were  not  united,  and 
a  man  could  worship  as  he  saw  fit,  or  not  at  all.  This  was 
looked  upon  as  sinful  by  Massachusetts,  and  in  1695, 
Cotton  Mather  wrote  "I  believe  there  never  was  held  such 
a  variety  of  religions  together  on  so  small  a  spot  as  have 
been  in  that  Colony"  and  again  "the  condition  of  the 


THE  RECORDS  OF  RHODE  ISLAND  25 

rising  generation  upon  that  Island  is  indeed  lamentable." 
You  can  see  by  this  that  even  in  those  days  there  was  a 
"Youth  Problem." 

Real  money  was  scarce,  and  in  a  tax  list  of  1671  it  is 
seen  that  taxes  were  paid  in  wool,  wampum,  homespun 
cloth  and  cheese. 

In  1713  a  small  piece  of  land  on  Watch  Hill  was  left 
public  "whereon  the  watch  house  now  or  late  standeth." 
In  1733  two  men  petitioned  the  town  for  the  use  of  this 
land  for  a  wind  mill.  The  town  granted  the  request  with 
the  understanding  that  in  time  of  war  they  could  "build 
a  watch  house  thereon  for  the  defense  and  safety  of  the 
town." 

After  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  made  and 
signed,  copies  were  sent  to  each  colony.  That  received  by 
Rhode  Island  was  copied  by  Southwick  the  printer,  of 
Newport,  and  one  of  these  printed  copies  was  sent  to  each 
town,  there  to  be  read  at  a  special  town  meeting.  It  was 
my  good  fortune  to  find  the  copy  sent  Portsmouth,  and  it 
is  now  framed  and  hanging  in  the  Town  Clerk's  office,  the 
only  known  copy  in  existence.  In  the  records  of  the  town 
meeting  held  27  August  1776,  is  written  in  small,  uphill 
writing,  "the  Declarayion  of  Independence  was  publically 
read." 

As  you  have  heard,  the  Island  was  occupied  by  the 
British,  and  some  of  the  inhabitants  suffered  severely  at 
their  hands,  but  worse  at  the  hands  of  the  Tories.  After 
the  British  troops  left,  the  land  of  the  Tories  was  confis- 
cated, and  it  would  seem  as  if  pressure  was  brought  to  bear 
upon  the  State  to  return  this  land.  The  following  shows 
how  this  idea  was  received  by  Portsmouth. — 

At  a  Town  Meeting  held  16  April  1783,  the  following 
instructions  were  given  to  the  Deputies  to  the  General 
Assembly — 

"You  will  to  the  utmost  of  your  power  oppose  all  at- 
tempts that  may  or  Shall  be  made  to  Induce  or  Persuade 
this  State  to  make  good  or  deliver  up  the  Confiscated  prop- 


26  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

erty  of  persons  who  in  this  our  late  Contest  with  Britain 
have  born  arms  against  the  United  States,  of  America,  or 
have  Directly  or  Indirectly  assisted  Great  Britain  in  her 
attempt  to  Subjacate  America,  or  that  has  Deserted  the 
Cause  of  America  and  taken  Refuge  or  Sanctuary  under 
the  Crown  or  Dominion  of  the  King  of  Great  Britain  or 
his  arms." 

"You  will  endeavor  to  get  an  Act  passed  at  the  General 
Assemblie  to  prevent  all  persons  formerly  Inhabitants  of 
the  United  States  who  have  born  arms  against  the  United 
States  of  America,  or  that  have  Directly  or  Indirectly 
assisted  Great  Britain  in  her  late  attempt  to  Subjacate 
America,  or  that  has  deserted  the  Cause  of  America  and 
taken  refuge  or  Sanctuary  under  the  Crown  or  Dominion 
of  the  King  of  Great  Britain  or  his  arms,  from  becoming- 
Citizens  of  this  State  or  Inhabitants  thereof  or  Residing 
therein." 

This  town  meeting  must  have  been  a  rather  lively  one 
although  nothing  is  said  about  it  in  the  records,  but  in  the 
record  of  the  following  meeting  we  find — 'Voted  that  the 
advice  that  Weston  Hicks,  Esquire,  gave  the  town  at  the 
Town  Meeting  in  April  last.  Respecting  Refugees,  Toryes 
and  persons  Disafected  to  the  Present  Government,  was 
good  and  wholesome  and  tended  to  preserving  of  peace 
and  good  Order  in  the  Town  and  the  abovesaid  meeting, 
and  was  Delivered  by  said  Hicks  in  a  Manner  becoming  a 
good  Politician  and  a  friend  to  his  country  and  a  Christian." 

Probably  one  of  the  most  peculiar  records  to  be  found 
in  any  town  is  in  our  scrap  book  in  the  Town  Clerk's  office. 
No  one  knows  how  it  ever  got  in  with  the  town  papers,  but 
there  it  is  and  no  doubt  will  remain  forever.  It  is  entitled 
"A  list  of  my  fitts,  to  be  given  to  my  husband  after  I  am 
gone,"  Then  follows  a  long  list  of  dates  with  the  notation 
"I  had  a  fitt"  or  "I  had  two  fitts."  This  goes  on  for  several 
years,  and  finally  in  a  different  handwriting  is  the  fact 
that  on  that  date,  the  writer  of  the  list,  "died  in  a  htt." 


LIST  OF  MEMBERS 


27 


List  of  Active  Members  of  the  Rhode  Island 

Historical  Society 


DECEMBER    1938 


Mr.  Frederick  W.  Aldred 
Mr.  Edward  K.  Aldrich,  Jr. 
Miss  Lucv  T.  Aldrich 
Hon.  Richard  S.  Aldrich 
Mr.  Stuart  M.  Aldrich 
Mr.  Devere  Allen 
Mr.  Philip  Allen 
Miss  Ada  Almy 
Mrs.  Everard  x^ppleton 
Miss  Marguerite  Appleton 
Mr.  Arthur  H.  Armington 
Miss  Maude  E.  i\rmstrong 
Mrs.  Edward  E.  Arnold 
Mr.  Frederick  W.  Arnold 
Miss  Mittie  Arnold 
Mr.  James  H.  Arthur 
Mr.  Donald  S.  Babcock 
Mr.  J.  Earle  Bacon 
Mr.  Albert  A.  Baker 
Mrs.  Charles  K.  Baker 
Mr.  Harvev  A.  Baker 
Mrs.  Horton  Baker 
Mr.  J.  Willard  Baker 
Miss  Mary  H.  Balch 
Mrs.  Sarah  Minchin  Barker 
Miss  Sarah  Dyer  Barnes 
Mr.  Fred  H.  Barrows 
Mr.  Earl  G.  Batty 
Miss  Marjorie  L.  Bean 
Mrs.  Daniel  Beckwith 
Mr.  Henry  L.  P.  Beckwith 
Mr.  Frederic  N.  Beede 
Mr.  Herbert  G.  Beede 
Mrs.  Herbert  G.  Beede 
Mr.  Robert  J.  Beede 


Mr.  Horace  G.  Belcher 
Mr.  Charles  P.  Benns 
Mrs.  Charles  P.  Benns 
Mr.  Bruce  M.  Bigelow 
Mr.  George  E.  Bixby 
Capt.  William  P.  Blair 
Mr.  Zenas  W.  Bliss 
G.  Alder  Blumer,  M.D. 
Mr.  J.  J.  Bodell 
Mr.  Amos  M.  Bowcn 
Mr.  Richard  LeB.  Bowen 
Rev.  Arthur  H.  Bradford 
Mr.  Claude  R.  Branch 
Rabbi  William  G.  Braude 
Miss  Alice  Brayton 
Miss  Susan  S.  Brayton 
Dr.  R.  G.  Bressler 
Mr.  Carl  Bridenbaugh 
Miss  Ida  F.  Bridgham 
Mrs.  William  E.  Brigham 
Miss  Eva  St.  C.  Brightman 
Mrs.  Clarence  A.  Brouwer 
Mr.  Clarence  Irving  Brown 
Mr.  Cyrus  P.  Brown 
Mr.  Frank  Hail  Brown 
Mr.  John  Nicholas  Brown 
Madelaine  R.  Brown,  M.D. 
Mr.  Wilbur  D.  Brown 
Capt.  Ernest  Henry  Brownell 
Miss  Madeleine  M.  Bubier 
Mr.  Harris  H.  Bucklin 
Mr.  Edward  J.  C.  Bullock 
Mr.  Mortimer  L.  Burbank 
Mr.  Edwin  A.  Burlingame 
A.  T.  Butler,  Esq. 


28 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


Col.  G.  Edward  Buxton 

Mrs.  S.  H.  Cabot 

Mrs.  Edwin  A.  Cady 

Mr.  John  H.  Cady 

Mrs.  Charles  A.  Calder 

Frank  T.  Calef,  M.D. 

Mrs.  W.  R.  Callender 

Mrs.  Wallace  Campbell 

Mr.  Thomas  B.  Card 

Mrs.  George  W.  Carr 

Mrs.  Marion  P.  Carter 

Miss  Anna  H.  Chace 

Mr.  Malcolm  G.  Chace 

Mrs.  Everitte  S.  Chaffee 

Prof.  Robert  F.  Chambers 

Mr.  Arthur  D.  Champlin 

Mr.  George  B.  Champlin 

Miss  Anna  Chapin 

Charles  V.  Chapin,  M.D. 

Mrs.  Charles  V.  Chapin 

Mr.  Howard  M.  Chapin 

Mr.  Frederic  L.  Chase 

Mr.  Albert  W.  Claflin 

Mrs.  Edward  S.  Clark 

Prof.  Theodore  Collier 

Mrs.  Clarkson  A.  Collins,  Jr. 

Mr.  James  C.  Collins 

Mrs.  Mabel  B.  Comstock 

Mrs.  Charles  D.  Cook 

Mr.  Albert  B.  Coulters 

Prof.  \'erner  W.  Crane 

Mr.  Frank  H.  Cranston 

George  H.  Crooker,  M.D. 

Mr.  Harry  Parsons  Cross 

Frank  Anthony  Cummings,  M.D. 

Mrs.  Frank  Anthony  Cummings 

Mr.  Arthur  Cushing 

Prof.  S.  Foster  Damon 

Murray  S.  Danforth,  M.D. 

Mrs.  Murray  S.  Danforth 

Mr.  William  C.  Dart 

Mr.  Foster  B.  Davis 

Miss  Marv  Elliott  Davis 

Mrs.  R.  C.  Davis 

Prof.  Edmund  B.  Delabarre 


Mr.  Paul  C.  DeWolf 

Miss  Alice  S.  Dexter 

Miss  Eunice  W.  Dexter 

Mrs.  Leroy  E.  Dickinson 

Mr.  Walter  Frederick  Dickinson 

Miss  Louise  Diman 

John  E.  Donley,  M.D. 

Mr.  Louis  W.  Downes 

Mrs.  Louis  W.  Downes 

Mrs.  G.  E.  Downing 

Mr.  Robert  T.  Downs 

Mrs.  Charles  E.  Dudley 

Miss  Dorothy  D.  Dunlop 

Mr.  Henry  A.  DuVillard 

Miss  Margarethe  L.  Dwight 

Miss  Anna  Jones  Dyer 

Col.  H.  Anthony  Dyer 

Mr.  Charles  G.  Easton 

Mr.  Frederick  W.  Easton 

Mr.  Cyrus  T.  Eddy 

Miss  Isabel  Eddy 

Mrs.  William  Holden  Eddy 

Miss  Harriet  C.  Edmonds 

Mrs.  Seeber  Edwards 

Mr.  Walter  Angell  Edwards 

Mr.  Zenas  H.  Ellis 

Mr.  William  Ely 

Miss  Mabel  W.  Ennis 

Mr.  William  Wood  Estes 

Mrs.  William  Wood  Estes 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Farnham 

Mr.  Royal  Bailey  Farnum 

Mr.  Walter  F.  Farrell 

Mr.  Augustus  H.  Fiske 

Mrs.  Charles  Fletcher 

Mr.  Elliot  Flint 

Mr.  Allan  Forbes 

Mr.  Hovey  T.  Freeman 

Hon.  Joseph  W.  Freeman 

Hon.  G.  Frederick  Frost 

Mr.  R.  Clinton  Fuller 

Frank  T.  Fulton,  M.D. 

Hon.  Joseph  H.  Gainer 

Mr.  William  Gammell 


LIST  OF  MEMBERS 


29 


Mr.  William  Gammell,  Jr. 

Miss  Abbie  P.  Gardner 

Mrs.  George  Warren  Gardner 

Prof.  Henry  B.  Gardner 

Mrs.  John  T.  Gardner 

Mr.  Preston  Hicks  Gardner 

Mr.  Daniel  F.  George 

Mrs.  Louis  C.  Gerry 

Hon.  Peter  G.  Gerry 

Mrs.  Peter  G.  Gerry 

Mr.  Robert  H.  I.  Goddard 

Rabbi  Israel  M.  Goldman 

Mr.  George  T.  Gorton 

Mr.  Harry  Hale  Goss 

Mrs.  Richard  Rathborne  Graham 

Mr.  Eugene  S.  Graves 

Mrs.  Eugene  S.  Graves 

Miss  Eleanor  B.  Green 

Hon.  Theodore  Francis  Green 

Mr.  Denison  W.  Greene 

Mrs.  Joseph  Warren  Greene,  Jr. 

Mr.  Thomas  C.  Greene 

Mr.  Ralph  M.  Greenlaw 

Mr.  William  B.  Greenough 

Mr.  Russell  Grinnell 

Mr.  E.  Tudor  Gross 

Mr.  R.  F.  Haifenreffer 

Miss  Annette  Mason  Ham 

Mrs.  Livingston  Ham 

Mrs.  Albert  G.  Harkness 

Mr.  Benjamin  P.  Harris 

Mr.  Edwin  Harris 

Miss  Mary  A.  Harris 

Mrs.  Thomas  Harris 

Mr.  Everett  S.  Hartwell 

N.  Darrell  Harvey,  M.D. 

Mr.  William  A.  Hathaway 

Miss  Caroline  Hazard 

Mr.  Thomas  G.  Hazard,  Jr. 

Mr.  Charles  F.  Heartman 

Mrs.  W.  E.  Heathcote 

Mr.  Coles  Hegeman 

Prof.  James  B.  Hedges 

Mr.  Bernon  E.  Helme 

Mr.  Joseph  G.  Henshaw 


Mr.  Robert  W.  Herrick 
Mr.  G.  Burton  Hibbert 
Mr.  William  A.  Hill 
Mr.  Frank  L.  Hincklev 
Mr.  Richard  A.  Hoffman 
Mrs.  William  H.  Hoffman 
Mrs.  John  S.  Holbrook 
Mr.  George  J.  Holden 
Mrs.  John  W.  Holton 
Mrs.  Albert  Horton 
Mr.  Charles  A.  Horton 
Mr.  M.  A.  DeWolfe  Howe 
Mr.  Wallis  E.  Howe 
Mrs.  William  Erwin  Hov 
Mrs.  George  H.  Huddy,' Jr. 
Mr.  Sidney  D.  Humphrey 
Mr.  S.  Foster  Hunt 
Mr.  Richard  A.  Hurley 
Mr.  James  H.  Hvde 
Mrs.  C.  Oliver  Is'elin 
Mr.  Norman  M.  Isham 
Miss  Mary  A.  Jack 
Mrs.  Donald  Eldredge  Jackson 
Mrs.  Edward  P.  Jastram 
Mr.  Thomas  A.  fenckes 
Mrs.  Edward  L.  Johnson 
Mr.  William  C.  Johnson 
Mr.  Llewellyn  W.  Jones 
Dr.  Lewis  H.  Kalloch 
Mr.  Francis  B.  Keenev 
Mr.  Charles  A.  Keller 
Mr.  Howard  R.  Kent 
Mr.  Charles  H.  Keves 
Mr.  H.  Earle  Kimball 
Lucius  C.  Kingman,  M.D. 
Miss  Adelaide  Knight 
Mr.  C.  Prescott  Knight,  Jr. 
Mr.  Robert  L.  Knight 
Mrs.  Robert  L.  Knight 
Mr.  Russell  W.  Knight 
Mrs.  Dana  Lawrence 
Miss  Grace  F.  Leonard 
Mrs.  Austin  T.  Lew 
Mr.  Dexter  L.  Lewis 
Mr.  Charles  Warren  Lippitt 


30 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


Mrs.  Frances  Pomeroy  Lippitt 

Mr.  Gorton  T.  Lippitt 

Mr.  Arthur  B.  Lisle 

Mrs.  Arthur  B.  Lisle 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Littlefield 

Mr.  Ivory  Littlefield 

Rev.  Augustus  M.  Lord 

Mr.  T.  Robley  Louttit 

Mr.  W.  Easton  Louttit,  Jr. 

Mr.  David  B.  Lovell,  Jr.' 

Mr.  Albert  E.  Lownes 

Mr.  Harold  C.  Lvman 

Mr.  Richard  E.  Lyman 

Mr.  George  R.  McAuslan 

Mr.  William  A.  McAuslan 

Mrs.  William  A.  McAuslan 

Mr.  Norman  A.  MacColl 

Mr.  William  B.  MacColl 

Mr.  Arthur  M.  McCrillis 

Miss  Grace  E.  Macdonald 

Mr.  Benjamin  M.  MacDougall 

Miss  Muriel  McFee 

Mr.  Charles  B.  Mackinney 

Mr.  Ralph  A.  McLeod 

Mr.  Wayne  McNally 

Mrs.  Herbert  E.  Maine 

Mrs.  William  L.  Manchester 

Mr.  Charles  C.  Marshall 

Mr.  Edgar  W.  Martin 

Mrs.  John  F.  Marvel 

Mr.  Harold  Mason 

Mr.  John  H.  Mason 

Mr.  Archibald  C.  Matteson 

Mr.  William  L.  Mauran 

Mrs.  William  L.  Mauran 

Mrs.  Frank  Everitt  Maxwell 

Mr.  Harry  V.  Mayo 

Mr.  W.  Granville  Meader 

Mrs.  Charles  H.  Merriman 

Mrs.  E.  Bruce  Merriman 

Mr.  Harold  T.  Merriman 

Mrs.  L  B.  Merriman 

Mrs.  E.  T.  H.  Metcalf 

Mr.  G.  Pierce  Metcalf 

Mr.  Houghton  P.  Metcalf 


Mrs.  L  Harris  Metcalf 
Hon.  Jesse  H.  Metcalf 
Mrs.  Jesse  H.  Metcalf 
Mr.  Stephen  O.  Metcalf 
Mr.  William  Davis  Miller 
Mrs.  William  Davis  Miller 
Mr.  George  L.  Miner 
Mr.  Marshall  Morgan 
Mr.  George  A.  Moriarty,  Jr. 
Mrs.  William  Robert  Morrison 
Mrs.  Bentley  W.  Morse 
Mr.  Jarvis  M.  Morse 
Mr.  Edward  S.  Moulton 
Mrs.  Edward  S.  Moulton 
William  M.  Muncy,  M.D. 
Walter  L.  Munro,  M.D. 
Hon.  Addison  P.  Munroe 
Mrs.  Addison  P.  Munroe 
Mr.  Walter  M.  Murdie 
Mr.  George  P.  Newell 
Miss  Eliza  Taft  Newton 
Mr.  Roger  Hale  Newton 
Mr.  Paul  C.  Nicholson 
Col.  Samuel  M.  Nicholson 
Mrs.  Raymond  M.  Nickerson 
Ira  Hart  Noyes,  M.D. 
Miss  Mary  Olcott 
Mrs.  Frank  F.  Olnev 
Mr.  Harald  W.  Ost'by 
Mr.  G.  Richmond  Parsons 
Mrs.  G.  Richmond  Parsons 
Miss  Mary  H.  Parsons 
Mr.  Frederick  S.  Peck 
Mrs.  Frederick  S.  Peck 
Mr.  Horace  M.  Peck 
Mr.  Stephen  I.  Peck 
Mr.  William  H.  Peck 
Mr.  William  T.  Peck 
Mrs.  F.  H.  Peckham 
Katherine  F.  Peckham,  M.D. 
Mr.  Clarence  E.  Peirce 
Mr.  John  P.  B.  Peirce 
Mr.  Charles  M.  Perry 
Mr.  Howard  B.  Perry 
John  M.  Peters,  M.I3. 


LIST  OF  MEMBERS 


31 


Mr.  Arthur  L.  Philbrick 

Mr.  Charles  H.  Philbrick 

Mr.  Alexander  Van  Cleve  Phillips 

Mr.  Arthur  S.  Phillips 

Mrs.  Frank  Nichols  Phillips 

Mr.  Thomas  L.  Pierce 

Mr.  Albert  H.  Poland 

Prof.  Albert  K.  Potter 

Dr.  Arthur  M.  Potter 

Mrs.  Dexter  B.  Potter 

Mrs.  Thomas  I.  Hare  Powel 

Miss  Ethelyn  Irene  Pray 

Mrs.  Howard  W.  Preston 

Mr.  Robert  Spencer  Preston 

Miss  Evelyn  M.  Purdy 

Helen  C.  Putnam,  M.D. 

Mr.  Patrick  H.  Quinn 

Mrs.  George  R.  Ramsbottom 

Mrs.  C.  K.  Rathbone 

Hon.  Elmer  J.  Rathbun 

Mrs.  Irving  E.  Raymond 

Mr.  Charles  C.  Remington 

Mr.  R.  Foster  Remolds 

Mr.  Dana  Rice 

Mr.  Herbert  W.  Rice 

Mrs.  Herbert  W.  Rice 

Mr.  Henry  Isaac  Richmond 

Mrs.  Fred  Robinson 

Mr.  Robert  Rodman 

Mr.  William  Greene  Roelker 

Mr.  Kenneth  Shaw  Safe 

Mrs.  Harold  P.  Salisbury 

Mrs.  G.  Coburn  Sanctuary 

Mrs.  George  C.  Scott 

Mrs.  David  Sands  Seaman 

Mr.  Henrv  M.  Sessions 

Miss  Ellen  D.  Sharpe 

Mr.  Henrv  D.  Sharpe 

Eliot  A.  Shaw,  M.D. 

Mrs.  Frederick  E.  Shaw 

Mrs.  Philip  C.  Sheldon 

Mr.  Robert  F.  Shepard 

Mr.  Clarence  E.  Sherman 

Mr.  Harry  B.  Sherman 

Mrs.  Arthur  F.  Short 


Mrs.  Charles  Sisson 
Mrs.  Byron  N.  H.  Smith 
Mrs.  Charles  H.  Smith 
Mrs.  Edwin  C.  Smith 
Mr.  Howard  B.  Smith 
Joseph  Smith,  M.D. 
Hon.  Nathaniel  W.  Smith 
R.  Morton  Smith,  M.D. 
Mr.  Walter  B.  Smith 
Mr.  Ward  E.  Smith 
Miss  Hattie  O.  E.  Spaulding 
Hon.  Ernest  L.  Sprague 
Mrs.  James  G.  Staton 
Hon.  Charles  F.  Stearns 
Mr.  Thomas  E.  Steere 
Miss  Maud  Lyman  Stevens 
Mr.  Edward  Clinton  Stiness 
Mr.  Charles  C.  Stover 
Mrs.  Charles  C.  Stover 
Mr.  Charles  T.  Straight 
Mr.  Henry  A.  Street 
Mr.  Frank  H.  Swan 
Hon.  John  W.  Sweeney 
Dr.  Walter  I.  Sweet 
Mrs.  Walter  I.  Sweet 
Miss  Louisa  A.  Sweetland 
Mr.  Roval  C.  Taft 
Prof.  Will  S.  Taylor 
Mrs.  J.  P.  Thorndike 
Louisa  Paine  Tingley,  M.D. 
Mr.  F.  L.  Titsworth 
Mrs.  William  O.  Todd 
Mrs.  Stacy  Tolman 
Mr.  William  J.  Tully 
Mr.  George  R.  L^rquhart 
Hon.  William  H.  Vanderbilt 
Mr.  William  A.  Viall 
Mrs.  Helen  C.  \'ose 
Mrs.  Arthur  M.  Walker 
Mr.  A.  Tingley  Wall 
Mrs.  Maurice  K.  Washburn 
Mr.  Slater  Washburn 
Mr.  Frank  E.  Waterman 
Mrs.  Lewis  A.  Waterman 


32 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


Prof.  Arthur  E.  Watson 

Col.  Byron  S.  Watson 

Mr.  John  J.  Watson 

Mr.  W.  L.  Watson 

Mrs.  William  B.  Weeden 

Mr.  Richard  Ward  Greene  Welling 

Mr.  John  H.  Wells 

Mr.  Philip  C.  Wentworth 

Mrs.  Philip  C.  Wentworth 

Mr.  Edward  H.  West 

Mrs.  Frank  Williams  Westcott 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  N.  White 

Mr.  Willis  H.  White 

Mrs.  Henry  A.  Whitmarsh 


Mr.  Frederick  Bernays  Wiener 
Mr.  Frank  J.  Wilder 
Mr.  Daniel  L.  Willmarth,  Jr. 
Miss  Amey  L.  Willson 
Mr.  William  A.  Wing 
Mr.  Wilson  G.  Wing 
Mrs.  George  P.  Winship 
Rev.  William  Worthington 
Mr.  Nathan  M.  Wright 
Mrs.  Sydney  L.  Wright,  Jr. 
Dr.  Henry  M.  Wriston 
Mr.  Lawrence  C.  Wroth 
Mr.  Frederick  W.  York 


New  Publications  of  Rhode  Island  Interest 

Mrs.  Vera  B.  Hanson  of  Cranston  has  presented  to  the 
Society  a  typewritten  genealogy  of  the  family  of  John  Irish 
many  of  whose  descendants  lived  in  Rhode  Island. 

First  Presbyterian  Church,  Newport,  R.  I.,  1888-1938, 
Fifty  Years  of  History,  is  a  pamphlet  of  65  pages. 

The  Old  Fall  River  Line  by  Roger  W.  McAdams  is  a 
volume  of  190  pages. 

Dorr  Pamphlet  No.  2,  The  Constitutional  Convention 
That  Never  Met  by  Zechariah  Chafee,  Jr.,  is  a  pamphlet 
of  88  pages,  published  by  the  Booke  Shop,  Providence. 

The  Hero  of  Aquidneck,  A  Life  of  Dr.  John  Clarke 
by  Wilbur  Nelson,  is  a  volume  of  95  pages. 

Cities  in  the  Wilderness,  including  a  study  of  colonial 
Newport,  by  Carl  Bridenbaugh,  was  issued  in  December. 

A  Record  of  William  Coddington,  Esquire,  by  Elizabeth 
Nicholson  White  is  a  pamphlet  of  24  pages. 


Notes 

Mrs.  Philip  C.  Wentworth  has  been  elected  to  member- 
ship in  the  Society. 


*« 


Rhode    Island 
Historical    Society 


?->  1"'' 


U\    Wi 


C  O  L  L  E  C  T  I  O  rf  S    .  „  ,„ . 

.  RPN  iV  I9j. 


H5= 


Vol.   XXXII 


APRIL,   1939        ^oo,J^e-ogj^^ 


^' 


FKAXCIS  WAVLAND 


Issued  Quarterly 


From  Portrait  in  Sayles  Hall 


68  Waterman  Street,  Providence,  Rhode  Island 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Francis  Wayland 

by  William  Greene  Roelker         .  .  .  33 


New  Publications  of  Rhode  Island  Interest   .  .  56 


Notes         ........  56 


Lawrance  Langworthy,  Pewterer 

by  Madelaine  R.  Brown        .  .  .  .  56 


Treasurer's  Report      .  .  .  .  .  .  61 


RHODE       '^¥^       ISLAND 
HISTORICAL     \^^^^  SOCIETY 

COLLECTIONS 
Vol.  XXXII  APRIL,   1939  No.  2 

Harry  Parsons  Cross,  President  Robert  T.  Downs,  Treasurer 

William  Davis  Miller,  Secretary  Howard  M.  Chapin,  Librarian 


The  Society  assumes  no  responsibility  for  the  statements  or  the  opinions 
of  contributors. 


Francis  Wayland 

1796-  1865 

President  of  Brown  University  and 

Citizen  of  Providence 

By  William  Greene  Roelker* 

The  history  of  Providence  during  the  thirty-eight  years 
of  Francis  Wayland's  residence  shows  that  he  was  not  only 
a  successful  president  of  Brown  but  a  leading  citizen. 

As  President  of  the  University  (1827-1855)  he  raised 
the  standard  of  teaching  to  a  high  plane^  and  materially 
developed  Brown's  resources.  His  own  rise  from  humble 
circumstances  had  strengthened  his  belief  in  the  right  of 
every  man  to  an  equal  opportunity  in  the  business  world, 
before  the  law,  and  in  the  halls  of  education.    His  whole 

*A  paper  read  before  the  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society. 

^  Justice  Joseph  Story  of  the  Harvard  law  faculty  said  "that  he  could 
at  once  distinguish  a  graduate  of  Brown  University  by  the  facility  with 
which  he  was  able  to  analyze  a  lecture  or  a  legal  argument."  Francis  and 
H.  L.  Wayland,  A  Memoir  of  the  Lije  and  Labors  of  Francis  Wayland 
(N.  Y.,  1867),  I,  236.  Unless  otherwise  indicated  quotations  will  be 
from  the  Memoir. 


34  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

philosophy  of  life  was  expressed  in  his  motto,  "I  go  for  the 
human  race." 

Liberty  and  knowledge,  in  the  opinion  of  the  day,  were 
necessary  for  the  success  and  preservation  of  American 
democracy.  Wayland  took  a  more  advanced  position.  In 
this  he  differed  from  Jeiferson,  Ticknor  and  Eliot,  other 
proponents  of  the  elective  system.  They  were  primarily 
interested  in  providing  the  best  quality  of  education  for 
students, — few  or  many, — who  came  to  Virginia  or  Harv- 
ard seeking  the  higher  learning.  Wayland  believed  that 
each  individual  student  should  have  the  opportunity  of 
pursuing  such  studies  as  would  be  of  the  greatest  advan- 
tage to  him  in  the  course  of  life  which  he  chose. 

In  pursuit  of  his  ideal,  Wayland  initiated  an  elective 
system  at  Brown  (1850),  so  arranged,  that  "every  student 
might  study  what  he  chose,  all  that  he  chose,  and  nothing 
but  what  he  chose."'  This  experiment  started  a  controversy 
which  has  taken  on  new  life  in  the  present  era  of  changing 
concepts  about  democracy  and  education.  Whether  the  final 
judgment  of  Wayland  will  be  that  of  Charles  William 
Eliot,  that  he  deserved  a  high  place  among  the  founders 
of  the  elective  system,  or  that  of  Samuel  Eliot  Morison, 
who  believes  that  Wayland's  educational  writings  in  favor 
of  the  addition  of  vocational  training  to  the  curriculum 
produced  more  mischief  than  any  other  tracts  in  the  history 
of  American  education,  it  remains  true  that  the  fearless  and 
self  reliant  thinking  of  Wayland  precipitated  an  agitation 
which  resulted  in  far-reaching  educational  modifications."* 
In  a  period  when  American  education  was  undergoing  a 
drastic  change  of  form,  he  was,  at  least  in  the  opinion  of 
Dr.  Thwing,  one  of  the  few  college  presidents  who  could 
also  be  called  an  educator.* 


-  Re  fort  to  the  Corforation  of  Broun  Uniz'ersity,  1850  (Providence, 
1850),  51. 

^  James  Burrill  Angcll,  "Founder's  Dav  at  Chicago,"  Selected  Addresses 
(N.  v.,  1912),  132. 

■*  Charles  F.  Thwing,  .4  History  of  Higher  E duration  in  America 
(N.  Y.,  1906),  316. 


FRANCIS  WAYLAND  .  35 

From  the  day  of  his  arrival  in  Providence,  Wayland 
identified  himself  with  every  enterprise  which  sought  to 
promote  the  prosperity  and  sound  morals  of  the  community. 
He  was  a  good  citizen.  He  was  chairman  of  the  committee 
which  reorganized  the  public  schools  (  1828),  an  original 
trustee  of  Butler  Hospital  (  1  844-64 ),  an  organizer  of  the 
Rhode  Island  Hospital  (1863),  a  founder  of  the  Provi- 
dence Dispensary  (1829),  active  in  prison  reform,  and  in 
peace  and  temperance  movements.  In  every  public  enter- 
prise Wayland's  "presence  was  felt  as  no  other  man's  was. 
All  waited  to  hear  the  utterances  of  his  voice,"  said  Dr. 
Caswell.  "It  may  justly  be  said  that  he  stood  among  us 
as  the  first  citizen  of  Rhode  Island." 

Francis  Wayland  was  born  in  New  York  City  (  1796) 
three  years  after  his  father  emigrated  from  Fromme, 
Somerset,  England.  Francis  Senior,  a  successful  currier, 
quickly  allied  himself  with  a  group  of  Baptists,  who  en- 
couraged him  to  give  up  business  to  devote  himself  to  the 
unremunerative  life  of  a  traveling  preacher.  Francis  re- 
ceived his  early  education  from  his  mother.  She  inspired 
him  with  an  abhorrence  of  religious  intolerance  which 
characterized  his  whole  life.  Before  entering  Union  College 
(Schenectady)  as  a  sophomore  (1811),  he  was  a  pupil  of 
Daniel  H.  Barnes,  one  of  the  few  real  teachers  of  the 
time.  Wayland  minimized  his  college  achievements.  Yet 
Eliphalet  Nott,  President  for  sixty-two  years  (1804-66) 
continued  to  show  an  interest  in  him  which  was  justified  by 
his  successful  career.  For  the  next  three  years  he  continued 
a  stimulating  association  with  Dr.  Eli  Burritt  of  Troy, 
under  whose  guidance  he  received  the  medical  instruction 
which  enabled  him  to  obtain  a  license  to  practice  (1816). 
Up  to  this  time  Wayland  had  shown  little  interest  in  reli- 
gious matters^  but  the  evangelical  atmosphere  of  his  sur- 
roundings almost  demanded  of  every  individual  a  religious 
experience,  leading  to  a  "conversion"  as  the  prerequisite 
to  baptism  and  admission  to  church  membership.  A  revival 
conducted  by  the  Rev.  Luther  Rice  (Troy,  1816)  was  the 


36  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

occasion  of  Wayland's  conversion.  His  call  to  the  religious 
life  was  so  strong  that  he  immediately  gave  up  medicine 
and  entered  Andover  Theological  Seminary. 

Wayland  never  forgot  the  grinding  poverty  of  his  year 
at  Andover.  Nevertheless,  he  felt  more  than  compensated 
by  the  intellectual  inspiration  and  training  which  he  re- 
ceived from  Moses  Stuart  (Yale  1799)  Professor  of  the 
Sacred  Languages.  Stuart  taught  him  to  reason  and  to  study 
and  by  example  confirmed  hiin  in  the  habit  of  appealing 
directly  to  his  Maker  for  spiritual  guidance.  At  the  end 
of  the  term  Wayland  was  saved  from  a  desperate  situation 
by  an  appointment  as  tutor  at  Union  College.  For  the  next 
four  years  he  learned  from  Dr.  Nott  the  unique  teaching 
methods  and  principles  of  college  administration  which  had 
placed  Union  in  the  vanguard  of  the  colleges. 

Encouraged  by  Dr.  Nott,  himself  a  famous  preacher, 
who  assisted  him  in  the  preparation  of  his  sermons,  and 
further  stimulated  by  another  revival  conducted  by  the 
Rev.  Asahel  Nettleton,  Wayland  looked  forward  to  the 
day  when  he  would  have  a  church  of  his  own.  An  oppor- 
tunity to  preach  in  Boston  led  to  an  invitation  to  become  the 
pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  there.  It  was  not  an 
ideal  situation,  but  Dr.  Nott  and  Moses  Stuart  prevailed 
upon  him  to  accept,  since  it  would  bring  him  nearer  to 
Brown  University,  then  the  center  of  Baptist  activities. 

His  pastorate  was  not  entirely  successful  j  the  church 
did  not  prosper  and  the  intellectual  character  of  his  ser- 
mons was  unsuited  to  the  congregation.  But  Wayland 
achieved  a  great  personal  success  j  the  sermon  on  the  Moral 
Dignity  of  the  Missionary  Enterprise  (1823)  made  him  a 
national  figure  among  the  Baptists.  Delivered  at  a  time 
of  great  interest  in  foreign  missions,  it  ran  through  many 
editions.  In  spite  of  his  growing  fame,  or  perhaps  because 
of  it,  he  resigned  from  his  church  to  accept  the  Professor- 
ship of  Natural  Philosophy  and  Mathematics  at  Union 
College.  Just  at  this  time  President  Asa  Messer  was  forced 


FRANCIS  WAYLAND  Z7 

to  resign  from  Brown  University  and  Wayland  immediately 
became  the  leading  candidate  for  the  position. 

All  of  Wayland's  experience  had  prepared  him  for  the 
position  of  college  president.  Moses  Stuart  had  subjected 
him  to  severe  intellectual  training j  Eliphalet  Nott  had 
given  him  practical  schooling  in  the  art  of  teaching  and  in 
educational  administration j  five  years  in  the  pulpit  had 
made  him  a  powerful  speaker.  As  a  teacher  he  was  simply 
a  cog  in  another  man's  machine;  as  a  preacher  he  did  not 
have  the  control  of  his  congregation  which  his  administra- 
tive talent  demanded;  as  President  he  could  put  into  prac- 
tice his  theories  of  education.  The  opportunity  came. 
Wayland  accepted.  He  was  duly  elected  President  of 
Brown  University,  December    1826. 

The  conditions  at  Brown  were  typical  of  the  colleges  of 
the  day.  Wayland's  description  is  frequently  quoted.  "The 
condition  of  the  college  was  not  encouraging.  The  number 
of  students  was  small.  Discipline  had  been  neglected. 
Difficulties  had  arisen  between  the  president  and  the  trus- 
tees, and  between  the  president  and  some  members  of  the 
faculty.  In  point  of  fact  the  college  had  not  a  high  reputa- 
tion in  the  community,  and  probably  did  not  deserve  it." 

His  sons  wrote,  "It  is  clearly  evident  that  Dr.  Wayland 
had  a  distinct  and  clearly  defined  idea  of  what  a  college 
should  be  and  could  be  made,  and  he  did  not  delay  an 
instant  to  apply  to  his  theory  the  test  of  practice.  .  .  .  There 
was  no  mild  and  moderate  transition  from  lax  discipline 
and  unchecked  license  to  strict  enforcement  of  law.  The 
reform  was  instant  and  radical.  President  Wayland  had 
not  been  in  ofiice  twenty-four  hours  before  it  was  apparent 
to  everybody  that  a  new  regime  was  already  instituted." 

W^ayland  made  new  college  laws,  "But  the  soul  of  the 
new  regime  was  not  a  code  but  a  man  —  intense,  fearless, 
strong  in  intellect  and  will.  The  influence  upon  the  students 
was  tremendous.  He  had  a  vast  amount  of  power  in  him, 
made  eifective  by  passion,  wit,  and  a  gift  of  trenchant 


38  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

speech.  .  .  ."'  His  first  reforms  were  designed  to  render 
Study  not  a  sham  but  a  reality  and  discipline  not  a  form 
but  a  fact. 

The  phrase  "born  teacher"  is  almost  a  synonym  for 
Wayland.  Up  to  this  time  a  recitation  system  prevailed  j 
the  student  was  given  a  definite  problem  which  he  com- 
mitted to  memory  or  a  passage  to  translate  which  he  recited 
to  the  teacher.  There  was  no  attempt  at  reasoning,  no  dis- 
cussion and  review  in  classy  the  pupil  was  expected  to 
depend  on  his  memory  alone. 

One  of  the  instructors  of  this  period  was  accustomed  to 
have  the  text  book  open  before  him,  and  as  the  student 
recited,  to  move  his  finger  along  the  lines,  striving  to  keep 
pace  with  the  progress  of  the  pupil.  From  time  to  time,  as 
the  recitation  of  the  student  outstripped  the  reading  of  the 
professor,  he  would  look  up  —  keeping  his  finger  at  the 
point  which  had  been  reached  —  and  say,  in  a  tone  of  mild 
reproof,  "Not  so  fastj  not  quite  so  fast."  With  the  passage 
of  the  years  a  certain  rate  of  progress  was  established  and 
it  came  to  be  an  unwritten  law  that  neither  student  nor 
teacher  would  attempt  to  accelerate  it. 

Wayland  introduced  an  entirely  new  system  at  Brown, 
one  which  he  had  learned  from  Eliphalet  Nott  at  Union 
College.    The  first  principle  of  the  Wayland  method  is  to 

^Walter  C.  Bronson,  .4  History  of  Bro-uu  University,  1764-1914 
(Providence,  1914),  206. 

"None  hut  those  who  witnessed  the  changes  he  wrought  can  fully 
appreciate  what  he  did  for  the  college  in  its  standard  of  scholarship, 
in  the  tone  of  its  discipline,  in  the  increase  in  means  of  instruction, 
and  in  the  self  sacrificing  spirit  which  he  infused  alike  into  its  instruc- 
tors and  its  more  immediate  guardians.  .  .  .  He  did  not  care 
especially  to  make  the  college  popular,  but  he  labored  most  earnestly 
to  render  it  a  school  of  thorough  discipline  and  of  sound  education 
...  he  displayed  an  ability  and  devotion  that  awakened  universal 
admiration.  The  benefactors  and  friends  of  the  institution  took  new 
courage,  and  the  merchants  of  Providence  stirred  by  his  appeals  on 
the  true  usage  of  wealth,  began  their  contributions  for  its  advance- 
ment." Obituary  notice  by  Prof.  Gammell,  Nezv  York  Examiner 
and  Chronicle. 


FRANCIS  WAYLAND  39 

make  the  pupil  understand  the  subject.  To  accomplish 
this,  the  student  is  required  to  make  out  an  analysis  or 
skeleton  during  study  hour.  In  class  he  is  expected  to 
commence  and,  without  assistance,  proceed  as  long  as  may 
be  required.  In  preparing  in  this  manner  the  student 
is  obliged  to  make  himself  master  of  the  subject.  He  can 
lay  aside  the  book  and  complete  the  train  of  thought  in  his 
own  words.  The  object  of  an  education  is  not,  as  many 
parents  seem  to  believe,  to  get  a  student  through  college  by 
going  over  a  certain  number  of  books,  but  to  impart  knowl- 
edge which  shall  be  remembered,  and  to  increase  the  in- 
tellectual capacity  of  the  pupil  by  habitually  calling  into 
exercise  as  many  of  his  powers  and  faculties  as  the  circum- 
stances of  the  case  will  permit.  This  will  most  certainly  be 
attained  by  uniting  the  view  of  the  whole  subject  with 
perfectly  free  discussions  in  the  class  room.  Wayland's 
whole  teaching  creed  may  be  summed  up  in  his  statement, 
"To  hear  a  scholar  say  a  lesson  is  not  to  educate  him.  He 
who  is  not  able  to  leave  his  mark  upon  a  pupil  never  ought 
to  have  one." 

Wayland  had  great  success  as  a  teacher.  Judge  B.  F. 
Thomas  '34  said,  "Others  may  speak  and  think  of  the  writer 
and  scholar,  my  tribute  is  to  the  great  teacher;  .  .  .  one 
who  has  the  rarer  faculty  of  drawing  out  and  developing 
the  mind  of  another,  and  making  him  work  for  himself. 
Rarest  of  all  God's  gifts  to  men."  Silas  Bailey  '34  wrote, 
"His  progress  through  either  of  his  favorite  sciences  was 
that  of  a  prince  through  his  own  dominions."  C.  F.  Thurber 
'27  wrote,  "The  new  system  was  the  exact  antipode  of  that 
which  it  displaced.  It  was  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  the 
age,  and  yet  sufficiently  original  to  be  called  'Wayland's'.  " 

In  addition  to  his  duties  as  teacher,  every  college  presi- 
dent was  called  upon  for  a  continual  round  of  preaching, 
public  speaking,  visiting  the  sick  and  attending  funerals. 
His  most  important  duty  was  to  secure  the  funds  to  finance 
his  educational  program.  When  Wayland  came  to  Brown 
there  were  two  buildings.  University  Hall  and  Hope  Col- 


40  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

ItgG.  Largely  through  the  gifts  of  Nicholas  Brown  ,  he 
secured  the  erection  of  Manning  Hall  (1835)  as  a  chapel 
and  library,  Rhode  Island  Hall  (1840),  for  the  depart- 
ments of  Natural  Philosophy,  Chemistry,  etc.,  a  mansion 
house  for  the  president,  and  the  beautiiication  of  the  college 
grounds. 

Charles  F.  Thurber  '27  reported  that  the  library  "was 
kept  in  one  of  the  projection  rooms  in  University  Hall, 
and  was  almost  a  terra  incog^nita  to  many  of  the  students." 
Hon.  Charles  Evans  Hughes  '81  quotes  Wayland  as  say- 
ing, "the  library  consisted  of  books  'old,  few  and  miscella- 
neous —  such  in  general,  as  had  been  gleamed  by  solicita- 
tion from  private  libraries,  where  they  were  considered 
as  of  no  value.'  '" 

Wayland  immediately  began  the  improvement  of  the 
library  by  devoting  certain  college  fees  to  the  purchase  of 
books.  The  corporation  voted  (  1831  )  to  raise  the  sum  of 
$25,000,  the  income  only  to  be  used  to  acquire  books  and 
philosophical  apparatus.  He  was  able  to  report  to  the  cor- 
poration fourteen  years  later,  a  library  of  20,000  volumes 
which  in  1849  had  grown  to  30,000.  Wayland  had  an 
Interest  in  libraries  generally  j  he  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Providence  Athenaeum,  dedicated  by  him  July  1 1 , 
1838  and  it  was  his  offer  to  the  Town  of  Wayland  (  Mass. ) 
of  a  gift  of  $500,  provided  a  similar  amount  was  raised  by 

*'  Nicholas  Brown,  the  most  influential  trustee,  and  patron  of  the  college, 
was  a  strong  supporter  of  Wa\land.  When  Wayland's  nomination  was 
being  considered,  Brown  wrote  him  at  Schenectady,  "Should  they  [the 
Corporation]  flatter  me  with  the  opportunit\'  of  making  the  nomination 
of  him  on  whom  their  minds  are  so  universally  agreed,  it  will  prove 
highly  gratifying.  And  1  shall  take  the  liberty  of  using  the  name  of  the 
late  Pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Boston  to  which  there  will  not 
be  a  dissenting  voice."  Letter  from  Nicholas  Brown,  Providence,  R.  I., 
to  the  Reverend  and  Mr.  Francis  Wa\'land,  Jr.,  Oct.  13,1  826,  in  Brown 
University  Archives. 

'  The  Sesqui-Cenfefinial  of  Bro':c/i  University  1764-19 1 4  (Prov- 
idence, 1915),  181. 


FRANCIS  WAYLAND  41 

the  people,  which  led  to  the  starting  of  the  Massachusetts 
free  library  system.^ 

Within  a  year  of  his  coming  to  Providence  Wayland 
was  made  chairman  of  a  committee  to  consider  the  public 
school  system.  The  report,  written  by  Wayland,  stated  as 
its  basic  principle  that  if  money  is  contributed  by  every 
citizen,  the  school  system  should  be  so  arranged  that  every 
contributor  should  have  an  equal  share  of  that  instruction 
which  "he  assists  to  maintain."''  At  this  point,  he  asks  a 
significant  question,  "Is  not  education  a  commodity  which 
all  classes  want?"  Why  not  then  furnish  it  of  such  quality 
that  all  may  enjoy  it  together?  By  furnishing  valuable 
courses  of  public  instruction  the  rich  will  enjoy  its  advan- 
tages and  surely  it  cannot  injure  the  middle  classes  or  the 
poor.  It  is  plain  that  his  mind  was  even  then  working  along 
the  lines  of  a  utilitarian  education  for  all  men  according  to 
their  desires  j  a  classical  education  for  the  men  who  wished 
to  enter  a  profession,  and  a  practical  education  for  those 
who  wished  to  equip  themselves  for  a  practical  life.  He  was 
developing  an  educational  philosophy  which  led  him  to  say 
(1856  ),  "We  do  well  to  revere  the  genius  of  Milton,  Dante 
or  Goethe.  But  there  is  talent  in  a  cotton  mill  as  well  as  in 
an  epic."^'^ 

Busy  as  he  was  with  university  duties  and  civic  activities 
and  saddened  by  the  death  of  his  wife,  Wayland  found  time 
to  write.  The  Elements  of  Moral  Science  (1835)  was  de- 
signed to  take  the  place  in  the  schools  and  colleges  of  the 
works  of  William  Paley  which  were  unsatisfactory  to  Way- 
land  because  of  their  extreme  utilitarianism.  His  success  in 
striking  a  new  note  is  shown  by  the  comment  of  a  friend: 


^  "From  this  law,  and  from  the  action  of  Dr.  Wayland  which  gave  rise 
to  it,  have  sprung  the  magnificent  free  libraries  which  now  enrich  Boston, 
Worcester,  .  .  .  .  "  Editorial,  Boston  Transcript,  July  8,  1916. 

^  F.  Wayland,  Chairman,  "Report  of  Committee  on  Public  Schools, 
April  1828,"  Barnard's  American  Journal  of  Education,  July  1828,  III, 
386-388. 

^^'^  Address  to  Free  Academy,  (Norwich,  Conn.,  1856). 


42  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

"I  give  thanks  to  God,  that  I  see  nothing  in  you  of  that 
parleying  with  the  world  which  is  so  fatal  to  Paley."  The 
Moral  Science  was  a  success,  reaching  a  circulation  of  over 
one  hundred  thousand  copies.  It  was  republished  in  Eng- 
land and  translated  into  Sgau  Karen,  a  language  of  southern 
Burma  (1885). 

The  Elements  of  Political  Economy  (1837)  never 
achieved  the  popularity  of  the  Moral  Science^  probably 
because  is  was  concerned  with  more  controversial  subjects. 
Wayland  had  the  courage  to  advocate  free  trade,  although 
Rhode  Island  in  general  and  his  trustees  in  particular,  were 
the  favored  beneficiaries  of  the  protective  tariff. 

Wayland  was  tired  in  the  Spring  of  1 840  and  with  good 
reason.  He  went  abroad  in  the  summer  to  recuperate  and 
to  study  European  methods  of  education.  His  health  pre- 
vented his  going  to  Germany  or  Italy  and  he  did  not  accom- 
plish all  that  he  hoped.  But  his  trip  had  one  very  important 
effect  j  it  made  him  "more  doggedly  a  Democrat  and  a 
Puritan."  Much  that  he  saw  seemed  to  him  like  a  puppet 
show,  even  the  burial  of  Napoleon's  remains  in  the  Hotel 
des  Invalides,  —  and  he  was  a  great  admirer  of  Napoleon. 
Versailles  gave  him  an  impression  of  "royal  magnificence," 
the  gardens  most  of  all,  "But  the  whole  cost  .  .  .  forty 
millions  sterling.  This  sum  would  have  constructed  thir- 
teen canals  each  as  expensive  as  the  Erie  Canal,  and  would 
before  this  time  have  doubled  or  trebled  the  wealth  of 
France." 

He  did  not  think  much  of  the  French,  "All  my  dealing 
with  them  has  shown  me  more  and  more  their  disposition 
to  lying  and  dishonesty.  .  .  .  They  treat  Americans  better 
than  they  do  Englishmen.  The  one  they  cheat  kindly,  the 
other  surlily  but  both  are  considered,  I  think,  in  the  nature 
of  victims."  Of  which  remark  J.  R.  Dennet  wrote,  "One 
would  almost  think  him  a  Frenchman  describing  New 
York."^^ 


1'  The  Nation,  X  November  28,  1867,  430. 


FRANCIS  WAYLAND  43 

Wayland  was  away  from  familiar  surroundings  for  the 
first  time  and  the  strangeness  of  everything  emphasized  his 
opinion  "that  Americans  know  not  their  own  mercies."  All 
the  pomp  and  show,  —  he  stood  in  a  gallery  while  the  royal 
cortege  and  the  peers  and  peeresses  passed  on  their  way  to 
the  opening  of  Parliament  by  Queen  Victoria  —  brought 
out  the  innate  Puritan  in  him.  "I  love  simple  manners, 
simple  tastes,  a  simple  government,  which  has  very  little  to 
do,  which  leaves  everything  possible  to  be  done  by  the  in- 
dividual, and  which  stimulates  talent  of  every  kind,  not  by 
patronage,  but  by  giving  talent  free  exercise,  and  leaving  it 
to  its  own  resources  5  a  government  of  which  the  constitution 
may  remain  firm  as  adamant,  while  the  men  who  administer 
it  may  be  changed  every  year  by  the  popular  will." 

In  all  considerations  of  Wayland's  reactions  to  Europe  it 
must  be  remembered  that  he  came  from  plain  stock  and  that 
he  was  a  Baptist.  "We  are  a  muidling-interest  people,"  he 
said,  "and  there  is  no  better  interest.  It  is  most  absurd 
for  us  to  aim  at  the  aristocracy j  they  do  not  want  our  kind 
of  religion."  Although  Wayland  was  the  leading  Baptist 
of  his  day  he  held  fast  to  the  nonsectarian  policy  on  which 
Brown  was  founded.  He  once  said  in  chapel,  "In  address- 
ing you,  I  am  of  no  sect." 

Wayland  was  a  democrat,  — -  spelled  with  a  small  d. 
Every  class  division,  every  evidence  of  control  by  govern- 
ment which  imposed  on  the  rights  of  the  individual  was 
contrary  to  that  spirit  which  made  him  adopt  as  his  watch- 
word, "I  go  for  the  human  race." 

With  such  a  creed  it  is  easy  to  understand  his  reactions 
to  Oxford  with  its  beautiful  buildings  set  in  lovely  grounds. 
"It  is  a  place  where  you  would  love  to  dwell,"  he  said. 
"But  when  one  reflects  on  the  immense  wealth  of  its  estab- 
lishment and  remembers  that  this  was  designed  to  promote 
the  prosecution  of  science  and  the  advancement  of  learning, 
and  not  for  the  cultivation  of  luxurious  easej  when  one 
remembers  that  it  was  for  the  education  of  the  people  of 
England,  and  not  a  part  of  them,  and  that  it  is  now  used  for 


44  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

the  good  of  a  part,  and  is  the  avenue  to  all  social  and  pro- 
fessional standing,  I  cannot  think  of  it  with  unmixed  respect. 
It  seems  to  me  a  monstrous  perversion.  ...  I  do  not  speak 
of  the  present  incumbents  .  .  .  but  of  the  system.  Of  this  1 
cannot  speak  in  terms  of  too  great  disapprobation.  It  seemed 
to  me  to  be  cultivating  narrowness  rather  than  expansiveness 
of  mind,  and  to  be  conferring  rather  a  fragment  of  education 
than  an  enlarged  view  of  human  knowledge." 

Wayland  was  resentful  of  such  a  system,  one  which 
denied  his  fundamental  belief  in  the  equal  rights  of  man. 
All  of  his  inborn  democratic  instincts  cried  out  against  any 
such  limitation  and  forced  him  to  the  proclamation  of  the 
keystone  principle  of  his  creed:  "No  man  can  be  denied 
the  right  to  such  an  education  as  he  may  choose."  Democ- 
racy supposes  that  the  object  of  society  is  simple,  that  it  is 
to  confirm  every  man  in  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  innocent 
results  of  the  use  of  his  faculties.  Beyond  this,  democratic 
society  does  not  interfere.  It  leaves  the  individual  to  work 
out  his  own  destiny  j  every  man  is  the  architect  of  his  own 
fortunes  j  to  such  a  man  knowledge  is  a  matter  of  imperative 
necessity.^' 

Sixty  years  later  Charles  Evans  Hughes  thus  described 
Wayland's  position:  "To  Wayland's  prophetic  eye  the 
educational  scheme  of  the  time  appeared  far  from  satis- 
factory. He  had  the  vision  of  democracy  and  of  its  educa- 
tional as  well  as  spiritual  needs.  He  had  little  patience 
with  the  fetters  of  the  old  curriculum,  and  was  not  content 
with  such  advance  as  had  been  made  in  enlarging  the  scope 
of  college  work.  .  .  ."^^ 

On  his  return  from  Europe  Wayland  attempted  to  in- 
troduce the  system  of  free  electives  which  he  had  been 
nursing  in  his  mind  for  many  years.  At  first  he  had  high 
hopes  of  success.  The  trustees  went  through  the  motions 
of  appointing  committees  to  study  his  recommendations. 

^''  Education  Demanded  by  the  Peofle  of  the  United  States  (Schenec- 
tady, 1  854),  22. 

^^  T he  Sesqui-Centefmial  oj  Brozvn  Uniz'ersity,  183. 


FRANCIS  WAYLAND  45 

But  as  time  passed  and  nothing  was  done  he  became  dis- 
couraged and  resigned  at  Commencement,  September  1 849. 
He  probably  did  not  intend  to  go  through  with  it,  but  the 
trustees  completely  surrendered  and  he  agreed  to  remain 
provided  he  could  reorganize  the  college  on  his  own  plan. 
A  committee  was  appointed  to  raise  $  1 25,000,  the  amount 
which  he  felt  would  be  necessary  to  carry  out  his  plans,  and 
in  due  course  the  money  was  secured,  though  not  without 
the  usual  struggle.  Another  committee,  of  which  Wayland 
was  chairman,  submitted  an  elaborate  plan  of  reorganiza- 
tion, March  8,  1850. 

We  need  not  here  concern  ourselves  with  the  details  of 
this  plan  which  included  the  establishment  of  a  law  school, 
a  normal  school,  an  agricultural  school,  and  the  payment  of 
the  professors  on  a  fee  basis.  The  important  provision  was 
that  every  student  might  study  what  he  chose^  all  that  he 
chose,  and  nothing  but  what  he  chose. 

This  plan  broke  wide  open  the  "straitjacket"  of  the 
classical  education  ^  it  established  a  free  elective  system 
nineteen  years  before  Eliot  was  elected  president  of  Harv- 
ard and  a  third  of  a  century  before  he  was  able  to  announce 
that  the  plan  was  effective.  It  was  not  original  with 
Wayland,  —  Jefferson,  Ticknor,  and  Nott  had  the  same 
ideas.  It  was  Wayland's  good  luck  and  the  good  fortune  of 
the  cause  of  broader  education  that  he  had  been  for  twenty- 
two  years  a  successful  president  of  Brown  University.  In 
addition  he  had  been  for  years  at  the  head  of  every  forward 
movement  in  Rhode  Island.  He  was  accustomed  to  lead 
and  others  to  follow.  Without  these  advantages,  Wayland 
never  would  have  been  able  to  institute  such  radical  changes 
in  an  eighty-year  old  University  in  a  conservative  com- 
munity like  Providence. 


^*  Limitations  of  space  prevent  a  complete  discussion  of  the  results  of 
Wayland's  experiment.    For  a  brief  summary  see  page  5  3. 


46  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

We  have  briefly  reviewed  Wayland's  career.  Let  us  now 
see  what  kind  of  man  he  was.  It  is  not  easy  to  answer  that 
question  directly.  The  principal  sources  of  material  are  the 
Memoir  written  by  his  sons  two  years  after  his  death,  and 
various  laudatory  discourses  delivered  by  intimate  friends. 
Of  the  Francis  Wayland,  by  a  pupil  James  O.  Murray  '50, 
Sidney  S.  Rider  wrote,  "there  appears  to  be  in  it  nothing 
not  before  known.  It  is  a  picture  of  Wayland  in  his  Sunday 
clothes.  His  was  a  rugged  character  in  many  ways  and 
would  well  bear  exhibition.  Why  not  give  us  a  look  at  him 
as  he  was?"  We  shall  try  to  read  between  the  lines  of  the 
published  material,  —  unfortunately  most  of  the  original 
correspondence  has  disappeared,  —  to  attempt  to  find  the 
real  Wayland. 

Let  us  examine  him  through  the  eyes  of  one  who  knew 
him  intimately,  his  pupil  and  colleague,  later  well  known 
as  the  President  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  James  B. 
Angell,  Brown  '49.  "No  one  could  look  upon  that  tall  spare 
form,  which  had  not  then  attained  the  corpulence  of  later 
years,  upon  that  massive  forehead,  those  piercing  dark  eyes 
glancing  through  the  shaggy  over-hanging  brows,  that 
prominent  nose,  and  those  firm  lips,  without  feeling  in- 
stinctively that  Dr.  Wayland  was  born  to  command."'' 
Many  observers  commented  on  his  striking  countenance, 
which  would  have  made  him  "an  admirable  model  for 
Jupiter  Tonans."  His  step  was  elastic,  his  form  erect  and 
his  bearing  manly  and  dignified.  His  massive  frame  never 
made  him  slow,  "he  was  more  rapid  in  motion  and  utterance 
than  smaller  men,  as  a  planet  goes  swifter  than  a  dart.  In 
his  momentum  the  velocity  was  equal  to  the  weight."'"  The 
spirit  which  animated  him  seemed  to  lift  him  above  every- 
thing selfish  and  mean,  he  impressed  himself  on  all  who 
came  within  the  sphere  of  his  influence,  and  his  very  appear- 


^■'  jamcs  B.  Angell,  "The  Late  President  Wayland,"  Hours  at  Home, 
December  1865,  II,  189. 

^'''  Cyrus  Augustus  Bartol,  "The  Good  Man,"  Monthly  Religious  Mag- 
azine, November  1865,  XXX1\',  265. 


FRANCIS  WAYLAND  47 

ance  gave  him  an  ascendance  over  others  which  ensured 
their  obedience.  His  influence  over  young  men  arose  partly 
from  his  magnetic  presence,  but  mainly  from  that  "imperial 
spirit  corresponding  with  the  external  presence,  the  exist- 
ence and  power  of  which  everyone  perceived  who  came  in 
contact  with  him."''  Through  the  turgid  Victorian  elo- 
quence of  the  Rev.  Cyrus  Augustus  Bartol  shines  a  vivid 
personality  of  great  force.  Many  there  are  who  say  that  no 
idea  of  the  man  can  be  gleaned  from  his  writings,  that  no 
summary  of  his  personal  characteristics  can  convey  any 
adequate  picture  of  him.  "What  power  there  is  in  his  very 
presence,"  wrote  John  L.  Diman  '51,  "defying  all  descrip- 
tion, as  the  most  speaking  faces  defy  the  art  of  the  photog- 
rapher, what  reserved  force,  sleeping  in  silent  depths  till 
stirred  by  great  occasion  .  .  .  the  terrific  frown  that  clouds 
his  brow,  those  grand  unbidden  rushes  of  emotion  that 
would  sometimes  shake  his  great  frame  and  choke  his 
utterance  .  .  .  ."'"  "He  was  a  king  by  divine  anointing," 
said  Cyrus  A.  Bartol  —  "one  of  those  few  whose  aspects 
drew  attention  and  fixed  every  eye.  From  some  persons 
we  know  not  how,  by  a  sort  of  elemental  energy,  a  thrill 
passes.  A  slight  shudder,  half  of  fear,  half  of  strange 
attraction  goes  through  us  in  their  presence.  Besides  Daniel 
Webster  I  know  not  who  else  .  .  .  was  so  charged  for  this 
galvanic  shock  .  .  .  the  judgment  seat,  shone  in  his  eyes  .  .  . 
nobody  could  doubt  he  was  President  .  .  .  this  gift  thus 
nursed  into  a  virtue  was  the  secret  of  his  extraordinary 
success  in  his  administration." 

Wayland's  magnetism  served  him  well  in  his  hours  of 
ease.  His  healthy  nature,  full  of  joyousness  and  genial 
impulses  showed  itself  in  sparkling  wit  and  quick  repartee, 
"silver  facings  on  the  garment  of  duty,"  said  his  associate 
Professor  George    I.    Chace.     "Once   freed   from   oflicial 


^'  BarnartPs  American  Journal  of  Education,  December   1863,  XIII, 

775. 

1*  lohn  L.  Diman,  "The  Late  President  Wayland,"  Atlantic  Motithly, 

lanuarv   1868,  XXI,  70. 


48  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

harness  his  intercourse  with  all  was  marked  by  geniality  of 
conversation  and  manner,"  wrote  William  L.  Stone,  "his 
sense  of  the  ludicrous  was  most  keen  ...  his  appreciation  of 
wit  in  others  was  quick  and  his  quiet  drollery  irresistible." 
Wayland  did  not  go  often  into  society,  but  he  had  a  very 
real  sense  of  the  social  obligations  incident  to  his  position 
as  president.  Most  of  the  persons  of  literary  prominence 
who  visited  Providence  were  invited  to  his  house  and  it  was 
his  regular  practice  to  gather  round  him  his  colleagues  and 
others  who  came  to  consult  him  in  regard  to  the  affairs  of 
the  college.  On  such  occasions,  related  Professor  Gammell, 
"his  rare  social  powers  showed  to  great  advantage,"  then 
his  conversation  was  brilliant,  he  called  on  the  vast  fund  of 
anecdotes  and  stories  of  which  he  had  such  a  store  as  has 
"often  given  celebrity  to  literary  men  as  'Table  Talkers.'  " 

Work  came  first  with  Wayland;  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
saying,  "Nothing  can  stand  before  days'  works."  He  wrote 
of  himself,  "I  am  a  perfect  dray-horse.  I  am  in  harness 
morning  to  night  and  from  one  year  to  another  and  am 
never  turned  out  for  recreation."  As  a  matter  of  fact  he 
preferred  to  work  no  matter  how  much  he  might  say  to  the 
contrary.  His  wife  wrote,  "Your  brother  is  well  but  con- 
stantly occupied.  .  .  .  He  has  too  much  love  of  work  not  to 
be  always  busy.  He  never  has  any  leisure,  for  if  others  fail 
in  the  performance  of  their  duties,  he  supplies  the  deficiency 
by  additional  labor  on  his  own  part."  His  real  feelings 
appear  in  the  obvious  anger  shown  in  his  letter  to  Dr. 
Stowe  from  London  (1841),  "I  do  not  think  any  minister 
has  any  right  to  spend  six  months  in  Europe  for  the  mere 
purpose  of  sight-seeing.  All  talk  about  mental  improve- 
ment is  merest  fudge,  ...  if  I  live  to  return  I  shall  set  my 
face  against  the  practice  as  wicked."  This  continuing  sense 
of  personal  responsibility  governed  all  his  actions  but  he 
did  not  know  how  to  break  away.  "Were  I  my  own  man, 
with  power  to  arrange  my  time  for  myself,  and  to  throw  off 
care  at  intervals,  ...  I  could  do  twice  what  I  do,  and  be  as 
elastic  as  need  be."    From  a  modern  point  of  view  this  is 


FRANCIS  WAYLAND  49 

merely  wishful  thinking,  for  had  he  the  inclination  there  is 
no  doubt  that  he  could  have  made  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments with  the  corporation  which  gave  him  such  splendid 
support. 

Gardening,  walking,  and  wood  chopping  were  the  only 
relaxations  he  permitted  himself.  Wayland  was  a  born 
gardener,  and  he  was  never  more  happy  nor  appeared  to 
better  advantage  than  when  among  the  flowers  and  vege- 
tables which  he  cultivated  with  his  own  hands.  His  garden 
diary  and  correspondence  are  very  human  documents,  filled 
with  such  entries  as,  "Beans  picked  today,  beets  in  a  day  or 
two"  and  "I  must  acknowledge  that  you  beat  us  in  Hubbard 
squashes."  Like  all  real  gardeners  he  entertained  his  friends 
by  showing  them  the  products  of  his  skill  and  labor,  the  first 
green  peas,  the  last  and  most  beautiful  dahlia  j  hardly  a 
visitor  left  his  gate  without  some  trophy  pressed  on  him  by 
his  enthusiastic  host.  In  the  winter  he  sawed  wood  or  took 
a  walk  in  the  country.  He  was  not  a  solitary  walker,  walking 
for  the  joy  of  itj  he  always  wanted  company,  choosing  for 
his  companions  members  of  the  faculty.  "In  these  walks  .  .  . 
he  would  often  do  all  the  talking  himself,  especially  when 
accompanied  only  by  his  juniors  . 


5> 


During  his  life  and  since  men  have  commented  on  the 
freshness  of  Wayland's  mind ;  just  recently  President  Wris- 
ton  who  had  been  reading  Thoughts  on  the  Present  Col- 
legiate System  in  the  United  States,  spoke  of  Wayland's 
fresh  approach  to  the  old  problem  of  education.  His  sons, 
Francis  '46  and  Heman  Lincoln  '49,  both  his  pupils,  wrote 
"perhaps  no  quality  of  his  mind  was  more  striking  than  its 
freshness.  He  had  no  traditional  anecdotes  handed  down 
from  class  to  class." 

It  was  not  until  middle  life  that  Wayland  wrote  on  moral 
philosophy  and  moral  science,  subjects  which  he  had  been 
teaching  for  many  years.  "When  I  commenced  the  under- 
taking I  attempted  to  read  extensively,  but  soon  found  it 


50  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

SO  difficult  to  arrive  at  any  definite  results  in  this  manner 
that  the  necessities  of  my  situation  obliged  me  to  rely  upon 
my  own  reflection."^" 

The  explanation  of  Wayland's  self-dependence  lies  in 
his  theory  of  knowledge.  He  agreed  with  Locke  that 
knowledge  of  matter  came  from  perception  and  knowledge 
of  mind  from  consciousness.  But  he  believed  that  the  mind 
is  further  endowed  with  a  suggestive  power  from  which 
arise  intuitive  cognitions,  occasioned  by  the  ideas  of  con- 
sciousness and  perception,  but  neither  produced  by  them  nor 
in  any  sense  similar  to  them.'"  These  original  suggestions, 
which  are  clear  and  definite,  lie  at  the  foundation  of  all  sub- 
sequent knowledge.  "We  know  them  to  be  true,  without 
the  intervention  of  any  other  media.  The  intellect  with 
which  we  are  created  vouches  for  their  truth  and  we  cannot 
conceive  of  them  to  be  false. "'"^  In  this  statement  lies  the 
explanation  of  an  answer  made  to  a  student  who  would  not 
accept  any  demonstration  of  the  truth  of  a  certain  axiom. 
Wayland  said,  "How  do  we  know  it  to  be  true?  By  our 
own  innate,  inborn,  gumption." 

Wayland's  mind  was  essentially  practical  and  in  his 
writings  little  attention  is  given  to  purely  speculative  ques- 
tions. He  unfolds  and  illustrates  important  truths,  which 
"in  ethics  and  for  the  most  part  in  metaphysics,"  as  Pro- 
fessor Chace  says,  "approximate  so  closely  to  intuition  that 
little  is  needed  beyond  their  exact  and  clear  statement.  .  .  . 
The  most  extended  inference  to  be  found  in  all  his  writings 
is  covered  by  his  favorite  word  'hence'  .  .  .  ." 

Wayland's  ethics  are  developed  from  Bishop  Butler's 
theory  of  the  conscience  and  a  strict  interpretation  of  the 
Scriptures.  The  conscience,  Wayland  believed,  is  an  intui- 
tive faculty  of  the  mind  by  which  the  moral  quality  of  any 


^'■'  Francis  Wayland,  The  Elements  oj  Moral  Science  (Boston,  1835), 
Preface,  5. 

-°  Francis  Wavland,  The  Elements  oj  Intellectual  Philosophy  (Boston, 
1854),  137. 

-^  Ibid.,  174. 


FRANCIS  WAYLAND  51 

action  is  discerned.  Every  act  of  man  affects  the  happiness 
and  rights  of  another.  If  the  nature  of  such  an  action  is 
candidly  considered,  its  moral  quality  will  be  perceived  j  it 
is  either  right  or  wrong.  The  conscience  has  an  impulse  and 
a  subjective  affection  to  do  right  and  to  so  restrict  one's 
actions  as  not  to  interfere  with  the  happiness  of  others. 


Following  the  principles  of  his  teacher  Moses  Stuart, 
Wayland  placed  the  Bible  at  the  mast  head  of  his  faith. 
Professor  Chace  reports  him  as  saying,  "Any  doubt  con- 
cerning Christianity  as  a  pillar  of  hope  would  be  to  me  a 
greater  calamity  than  the  sinking  of  a  continent."  Chace 
expressed  his  own  opinion  that  "It  was  only  in  the  moral 
nature  of  man  supplemented  by  the  new  forces  imported 
into  it  by  Christianity  that  he  [Wayland]\  found  assured 
ground  for  faith  in  man's  continued  progress."  He  wrote, 
"The  gospel  is  radical  enough  for  me,"  for  "the  ideas  of 
revelation  are  not  human  but  divine  ideas,  the  conceptions 
of  the  infinite  God.  It  seems  to  me  they  are  not  subjects 
for  human  logic  and  that  by  applying  reason  to  them  we 
are  led  into  an  absurdity."  He  stood  firmly  by  the  teach- 
ings of  the  Bible  and  believed  the  greatest  advance  of  which 
man  was  capable  was  secured  by  obedience  to  "the  inspired 
wisdom." 

Wayland  based  his  daily  judgments  on  God.  "He  was 
pre-eminently  a  -praying  man.  He  talked  with  God.  To 
the  last  day  of  my  life  shall  I  remember  that  great  frame 
bending  at  my  side,  and  that  beseeching  voice,  and  that 
importunate  pouring  forth  from  the  depths  of  his  soul,  such 
prayer  as  only  he  could  frame  ...  he  talked  with  God," 
wrote  the  Rev.  W.  McKenzie.  Isaac  Davis,  who  traveled 
with  Wayland  in  Europe,  reported  that  he  tested  every 
action,  saying,  "Davis,  if  Christ  were  on  earth  and  present 
here  would  he  attend  this  exhibition?" 


52  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

"At  the  top  of  College  Hill  Dr.  Wayland  was  ruling  with 
a  rod  of  iron,"  writes  an  old  graduate.  Wayland  acquired  a 
reputation  as  a  stern  disciplinarian  and  a  hard  task  master. 
In  his  defense  it  is  only  fair  to  quote  a  contemporary  opinion, 
"If  the  rules  of  labor  and  conduct  which  he  enforced,  were 
sometimes  deemed  unduly  severe,  they  were  such  as  he 
prescribed  for  himself  and  which  he  consistently  followed." 
Congdon  '4 1  writes,  "He  was  disobeyed  in  fear  and  trem- 
bling ...  he  had  a  heavy  foot  for  a  student's  door  when  it 
was  not  promptly  opened  after  his  official  knock."""  "The 
Reverend  and  Respected  Sir,"  as  Dearth  '54  calls  him  in 
his  diary,  was  not  always  courteous.  Attempting  to  explain 
his  absence  Dearth  joined  a  group  of  students  but  "after 
answering  a  few  questions  he  [Wayland]  began  to  walk  off 
into  his  office  with  great  coolness  and  disregard  to  us  under- 
graduates. I  tried  to  speak  to  him;  but  had  to  follow  him 
into  his  room  to  say  a  couple  of  words,  for  he  wouldn't  be 
stopped.  Characteristic.""' '  "In  his  last  years  .  .  .  Wayland 
seems  to  have  grown  somewhat  autocratic  and  arbitrary," 
Bronson  reports  President  Angell  as  saying  in  a  personal 
interview  (Providence  1914)  "that  he  was  often  imperious 
and  rough,  sometimes  unreasonable  and  unjust  j  especially 
was  he  jealous  of  his  authority  —  question  that,  and  he 
swelled  with  anger.  Weariness  with  routine  made  him  more 
and  more  brusque  toward  the  end.""'* 

But  Wayland  had  a  human  side  to  his  nature  although 
"very  few  knew  the  depth  of  his  heart  or  his  genial  nature." 
Behind  the  front  necessary  to  his  position  as  president  and 
under  his  "Sunday  clothes"  was  just  a  plain  man.  (He 
sat  in  the  kitchen  in  his  shirt  sleeves.  It  was  notorious  that 


--  C.  T.  Congdon,  Reminiscences  of  a  Journalist  (Boston,  1880),  92. 
'■^  W.  G.  Dearth,  Praeterita,  Journal  of  Acts  and  Thoughts,  1  8  54-5  5  ; 
October  13,  1854,  MS.  Brown  University  Archives. 
"*  Bronson,  of.  cit.,  247. 


FRANCIS  WAYLAND  53 

he  "used  tobacco.")"'  While  on  active  duty  at  college  he 
was  obliged  to  maintain  an  attitude  j  when  off  duty  he  could 
allow  the  benevolence  of  his  real  nature  to  be  seen.  He 
was  a  fatherly  man,  enjoying  all  the  pleasures  of  parent- 
hood j  he  walked  with  his  sons,  he  taught  them  the  Bible, 
he  read  them  such  old  favorites  as  Sandford  and  Merton, 
and  Robinson  Crusoe^  and  he  rolled  on  the  floor  with 
them  encouraging  "their  wild  delight  when  they  were 
allowed  to  think  they  had  conquered  their  father."  This 
fatherliness  he  carried  into  his  personal  relationship  with 
the  students  —  out  of  hours.  "Look  at  him  —  you  would 
not  wish  to  encounter  his  rebuff  or  his  frown.  But  go  to  his 
study,  state  your  perplexity,  not  another  man  of  all  your 
acquaintance  would  listen  more  attentively  nor  help  you 
more  truly  and  kindly." 

*        *        *        * 

A  writer  in  the  Nation  thus  characterized  Dr.  Wayland 
at  the  time  of  the  publication  of  the  Memoir  (1867): 
"Morally  considered,  he  was  a  man  to  be  much  admired; 
admirable  rather  than  very  lovable  perhaps,  but  certainly 
admirable,  doing  with  all  his  might  every  duty  which  he 
thought  to  be  laid  upon  him.  The  cause  of  good  education, 
of  good  morals,  had  his  intellectual,  laborious,  self-sacrific- 
ing service  from  his  youth  till  his  death  \  and  if  it  is  true  that 
he  is  not  to  be  remembered  by  many  generations,  yet  while 
he  is  remembered  he  will  be  known  as  he  would  best  liked 
to  be  known,  —  as  a  man  who  in  his  own  generation  worked 
hard  to  do  good  and  did  good."' 

Francis  Wayland's  fame  does  not  rest  on  his  desire  to 
do  good,  nor  on  his  striking  personality.  He  is  remem- 
bered because  of  his  bold  experiment  introducing  the  elec- 
tive system  at  Brown  University. 

^^  A  student  relates  that  when  crossing  the  Campus  he  was  startled  by 

hearing  a  call  in  a  Boanerges  voice,  "  'C have  you  a  chew  of  tobacco' 

for  the  doctor  was  a  shameless  consumer  of  the  weed."  Congdon,  op.  cit.^ 
94. 

-^  J.  L.  Dennett,  loc.  cit.,  +31. 


54  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

In  an  article  of  this  length  it  is  impossible  to  follow 
through  all  the  consequences  of  his  experiment.  Briefly, 
it  may  be  said  that  the  immediate  effect  was  an  increase  in 
enrollment  and  scholastic  activity,  but  this  did  not  last. 
Wayland  had  tried  to  do  too  much.  His  program  was 
inadequately  financed  and  met  with  the  passive  resistance 
of  the  faculty  and  board  of  trustees.  Struggling  practically 
single-handed,  he  wore  himself  out  and  ill-health  forced 
his  resignation.  With  scarcely  concealed  satisfaction  the 
college  returned  to  the  old  system. 

In  the  long  run  his  attempt  had  far  reaching  effects. 
Late  in  the  nineteenth  century  a  few  leading  educators, 
notably  Charles  William  Eliot,  found  in  the  elective  sys- 
tem the  panacea  for  all  educational  ills.  They  gave  high 
place  to  Jefferson,  Ticknor,  and  Wayland  as  the  pioneers 
in  the  movement.  Followed  to  its  logical  conclusion  the 
part  of  Wayland's  formula  which  deinanded  that  a  student 
might  study  "what  he  chose,  all  that  he  chose"  necessitated 
giving  a  large  number  of  courses  in  specific  subjects  for 
specific  purposes,  i.e.,  to  help  young  men  become  better 
farmers,  mechanics  or  merchants.  As  Professor  Morison 
says  "even  a  cursory  inspection  of  their  catalogues"  shows 
that  many  state  universities  are  following  this  principle 
today."'  Not  to  mention  the  Harvard  Graduate  School  of 
Business  Administration,  the  Pulitzer  School  of  Journalism, 
etc. 

The  second  part  of  Wayland's  formula  eliminated  all 
required  courses;  a  student  might  study  "nothing  but  what 
he  chose."  At  Harvard  in  1900,  an  extreme  example,  after 


~'  Harvard  never  went  as  far  as  some  of  the  others,  nor  quite  succumbed 
to  the  demand  for  vocational  training.  Morison  writes,  "Eliot's  greatest 
service  to  the  country  was  to  leap  on  the  hack  of  this  wild  mustang  which 
Wavland  had  branded,  and  to  break  it  into  the  civilized  if  somewhat 
jittery  paces  of  the  Harvard  elective  system.  He  managed  to  give  the 
public  what  it  wanted,  without  completely  sacrificing  Thomas  Jefferson's 
ideal  of  training  an  intellectual  aristocracy  to  serve  a  political  democracy." 
Samuel  F.liot  Morison,  Three  Centuries  of  Harzuir^I  (Cambridge,  1937), 
288. 


FRANCIS  WAYLAND  55 

passing  one  required  course  in  English,  a  student  might 
meet  the  requirements  for  a  degree  by  passing  a  given  num- 
ber of  courses,  elementary  or  advanced,  selected  at  will 
from  any  part  of  the  catalogue  and  absolutely  unrelated 
to  each  other.  The  accumulation  of  a  certain  number  of 
credits  earned  an  A.B.  degree  and  admission  "to  the  fellow- 
ship of  educated  men." 

Recently  the  tide  has  set  strongly  in  the  other  direction. 
For  some  time  Harvard  has  required  candidates  for  honors 
to  work  under  the  supervision  of  a  tutor  in  a  field  of  con- 
centration and  to  pass  a  general  comprehensive  examina- 
tion. Brown  has  recently  reduced  by  twenty  per  cent  the 
number  of  courses  in  an  effort  to  bring  the  students  into 
closer  stimulating  contacts  with  mature  faculty  minds,  and 
to  urge  them  to  do  more  reading  and  writing. 

The  problem  of  the  higher  education  is  still  under  dis- 
cussion. Some  continue  to  cling  to  the  opinion  held  by 
Wayland  and  Eliot  that  every  man  should  choose  for  him- 
self the  educational  food  which  he  would  eat,  even  at  the 
risk  of  mental  indigestion.  Others  think  that  some  sort  of 
a  diet  should  be  prescribed  by  the  college.  The  value  of 
Wayland's  experiment  is  in  no  way  diminished  by  the 
differences  of  current  opinion.  Let  it  be  said  to  his  ever- 
lasting credit,  that  he  faced  the  problem  as  he  saw  it  and 
met  it  with  courage. 


56  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


New  Publications  of  Rhode  Island  Interest 

The  Society  of  Colonial  Wars  issued  in  December  a 
leaflet  of  eleven  pages  on  John  Albro's  Deposition  of  1705 
in  regard  to  the  purchase  of  Aquidneck. 


Notes 

The  following  persons  have  been  elected  to  membership 
in  the  Society: 

Mr.  Charles  J.  Hill 

Mr.  Wilfred  C.  Murphy 


Three  Examples  of  the  Work  of 
Lawrance  Langworthy,  Newport  Pewterer 

By  Madelaine  R.  Brown,  M.D. 

The  earliest  Rhode  Island  pewterer  who  has  left  known 
examples  of  his  work  is  Lawrance  Langworthy  of  Newport. 
He  worked  first  in  Exeter,  England  j  and  in  the  Exeter 
Museum,  Devonshire,  is  a  plate  bearing  his  touch  mark 
and  the  date  1719.  By  1731  he  had  moved  to  Newport 
as  evidenced  by  the  Supreme  Court  Records  naming  him 
as  pewterer  and  plaintiff  in  a  law  suit.^ 

He  did  not  come  to  America  for  religious  reasons  since 
he  remained  a  member  of  the  Anglican  Church  and  became 

^  Colket,  M.  B.,  "Lawrence  Langworthy,  Pewterer"  The  American 
Genealogist:  15,  p.  1.  July  1938. 


LAWRANCE  LANGWORTHY  57 

a  vestryman  of  Trinity  Church,  Newport.  It  is  supposed 
that  he  came  for  business  reasons  and  to  Newport,  because 
the  only  other  Langworthy  known  to  have  come  to  this 
country  was  Andrew  Langworthy,  a  citizen  of  Newport  as 
early  as  1652. 

Lawrance  Langworthy  had  two  children,  Mary  and 
Southcott.  Mary  married  Daniel  Pierce  and  he  and  South- 
cott  went  into  business  together  as  braziers  in  Newport. 
The  Langworthy  name  was  carried  on  only  one  generation 
further  for  Southcott's  only  son  was  severely  injured  in 
the  Revolutionary  War  and  left  no  descendants. 

Mr.  Colket  prints  Lawrance's  will  probated  1739  which 
shows  that  he  left  a  very  substantial  estate  for  that  day.' 
The  tombstone  of  Lawrance  and  his  wife,  Mary,  is  in  the 
Island  cemetery,  New^port,  and  is  believed  by  Mr.  Howard 
Chapin  to  bear  the  only  example  of  an  impaled  coat  of  arms 
in  colonial  Rhode  Island.  The  birth  place  of  Lawrance  is 
given  as  Ashburton  and  of  Mary  as  Dartmouth,  both  of 
Devonshire.  It  is  probable  that  she  was  Mary  Southcott 
since  this  was  the  name  of  a  prominent  gentry  family  of 
Devonshire  and  both  Langworthy  children  named  sons 
Southcott.  Mr.  Williani  Langworthy  of  Hamilton,  New 
York,  descendant  of  Andrew  Langworthy,  has  made  a 
search  of  the  Ashburton  parish  records  without  being  able 
to  trace  the  Langworthy  ancestry. 

In  1936  a  bell  metal,  three-legged  pot  turned  up  in  the 
possession  of  Mrs.  Benjamin  Blake  of  Weston,  Massachu- 
setts. This  bears  the  mark  "L.  Langworthy  1730"  on  the 
handle.  In  the  spring  of  1938  a  similar  pot  with  the  mark 
"L.  L.  Newport"  was  discovered  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Lewis  Wiggin  of  Northampton,  Massachusetts  and  due  to 
the  efforts  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paul  J.  Franklin  of  Needham, 
one  marked  identically  with  Mrs.  Blake's  was  located  in 
the  collection  of  the  late  Mr.  Albert  Bowman  of  Spring- 
held,  Vermont.  It  is  of  interest  that  all  of  these  pots  were 
found  in  the  Connecticut  valley  possibly  indicating  an  early 
maritime  trade  route. 


58 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


The  handles  of  both  pots  where  they  were  attached  have 
a  defect  blotting  out  the  "L"  of  Langworthy.  The  fact 
that  two  examples  dated  1730  have  been  found  in  this 
country  leads  one  to  suppose  that  the  maker  began  work  in 
Newport  at  this  time.  Outside  of  a  spoon  handle  by  Joseph 


TOUCH    MARK    OF    LANGWORTHY 

FROM    COLKET,   IN   AMER. 

GENEALOGIST 


TOUCH    MARK    OF    LANGWORTHY    ON    PEWTER    PLATE    IN 
EXETER  MUSEUM,  EXETER,  ENGLAND 


LAWRANCE  LANGVVORTHY 


59 


LANGWORTHY  PEWTER  PLATE  IN 
EXETER  MUSEUM,   EXETER,   ENGLAND 


Copeland  of  Chuckatuck,  Virginia,  recently  excavated  at 
Jamestown",  these  pots  by  Langworthy  remain  the  earliest 
known  examples  of  an  American  pewterer's  work.  Cope- 
land's  touch  mark  dated  1675  is  strikingly  similar  in  type 
to  Langworthy's  English  mark,  although  the  two  men  be- 
gan work  forty-four  years  apart  on  opposite  sides  of  the 
Atlantic. 

There  are  several  bell  metal  pots  of  the  same  type  in 
Newport  at  present,  two  of  which  bear  simply  "Newport" 
on  the  handles.  One  is  in  the  Newport  Historical  Society 
and  the  other  in  the  Winton-Lyman-Hazard  House. 
These  were  probably  made  either  by  Lawrance  or  his  son, 
Southcott,  but  unfortunately  no  pewter  made  in  this  coun- 
try by  the  former  has  been  discovered. 


-  Bailev,  W.,  "Joseph  Copeland,   17th  Century  Pewterer"  Antiques: 
23,  p.  188  April  1938. 


60 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


I'hulo    by  Mr.  P.  J.   F,u,nkHn 
I.ANGWOR THY  BELL  METAL  POT 

Oziiicd  by  Mr.   Lr^cis  A'.   Wiggin,  N iirthaiiiptO}i ,  Mass. 


Photo   by  Mr.   P.  J.   Franklin 
LANGUORrHY    BELL    METAL    POTS 
Ozviied  by  Ozincd  by 

Dr.  Madelaine  Broicn  Mrs.  Benjamin   Blake 


treasurer's  report  61 


Rhode  Island  Historical  Society 
Treasurer's  Report 

INCOME  ACCOUNT  FOR  THE  YEAR   1938 


Receipis 

Annual  Dues $2,090.00 

Dividends  and  Interest 3,390.56 

Rental  of  Rooms 1 00.00 

Newspaper  Account 1 2.50 

State  Appropriation  1,500.00 

Surplus  Income  Account 686.50 

$7,779.56 

Expenditures 

Binding    $       32.10 

Books    326.01 

Electric  Light  and  Gas 73.90 

Lectures   82.71 

Expenses  48.1  8 

Grounds  and  Building 6.5  5 

Heating    700.85 

Insurance    225.00 

Publications 504.12 

Salaries  5,580.00 

Supplies    133.84 

Telephone 58.30 

Water  8.00 

$7,779.56 


62  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

STATEMENT  OF  CONDITION,  DECEMBER   31,    1938 


4,000.00 


Assets 

Grounds  and  Building $    25,000.00 

Investments: 

$3,000.   Centra]  Mfg.  District $3,000.00 

4,000.   Dominion  of  Canada,  5s,  1952 4,003.91 

4,000.   Minn.  Power  &  Light  Co.,  1st  5s,  195  5    3,930.00 

2,000.   Ohio  Power  Co.,  1st  &Ref.  5s,  1952 1,974.00 

1,000.  TexasP.  &L.,  Ist&Ref.  5s,  1956 1,021.25 

1,000.   Pennsylvania  R.  R.,  Deb.  4>ls,  1970         922.50 
1,000.    Penn.  Water  &  Power  Co.,  1st  5s,  1940    1,005.42 

5,000.    Bethlehem  Steel  Corp.  4i^s,  I960 5,225.00 

3,000.   Western  Mass.  Com.  3'4s,  1946 3,086.25 

3,000.   Consolidated  G.as  Co.' of  N.  Y.  3>4s, 

1 946 3,131.25 

4,000.    BroadwavExch.Corp.  1st  Mtge.  Cert. ^ 

1950 

8  shs.  Class  A  Broadway  Exch.  Corp. 

$     500.   Pennsylvania  Railroad  Co.  334s,  1952  500.00 

500.    New  York  Central  Railroad  Co.  3^s, 

1952 509.39 

1,000.   Gulf  State  Utilities  Co.,  4s,  1966 1,060.50 

54  shs.  New  York  Central  Railroad  Co 3,654.62 

30  shs.  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Co 2,1  12.50 

7  shs.  Lehigh  Valley  Coal  Co 23  5.39 

125  shs.  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Co 7,638.3  5 

40  shs.  Wisconsin  Electric  Power  Co.,  Pfd 3,900.00 

70  shs.  American  Telephone  &  Telegraph  Co.   6,591.72 

350  shs.  Providence  Gas  Co. 5,75  5.68 

1  5  shs.  Providence  National  Bank )     .   _ .  ,  ,  ^ 

15  shs.  Providence  Nat'l  Corp.  Trust  Cert.( 

45  shs.  Blackstone  Canal  National  Bank 1,050.00 

52  shs.  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  Rv.  Co. 

Com '. 6,247.85 

45  shs.  Public  Service  of  N.  J.,  5s,  Cum.  Pfd.   4,317.63 

22  shs.  Continental  Can 1,446.02 

40  shs.  Bankers  Trust  Co.  of  N.  Y 2,61 5.00 

2  shs.  Guaranty  Trust  Co.  of  N.  Y 706.00 

.  Savings  Account 2,000.00 

83,153.85 

Cash  on  hand 3,193.96 


$111,347.81 


treasurer's  report  63 

Liabilities 
Equipment  Fund $    2  5,000.00 

Permanent  Endowment  Fund: 

■   Samuel  M.  Noyes $12,000.00 

Henry  J.  Steere 10,000.00 

James  H.  Bugbee 6,000.00 

Charles  H.  Smith 5,000.00 

William  H.  Potter 3,000.00 

Charles  W.  Parsons 4,000.00 

Esek  A.  Jillson 2,000.00 

John  Wilson  Smith 1 ,000.00 

William  G.  Weld 1,000.00 

Charles  C.  Hoskins 1 ,000.00 

Charles  H.  Atwood 1,000.00 

Edwin  P.  Anthony 4,000.00 

John  F.  Street 1,000.00 

George  L.  Shepley 5,000.00 

Franklin  Lyceum  Memorial 734.52 

Sarah  P.  Blake 124.00 

56,858.52 

Publication  Fund: 

Robert  P.  Brown 2,000.00 

Ira  P.  Peck 1 ,000.00 

William  Gammell  1,000.00 

Albert  J.  Jones 1,000.00 

William  Ely  1,000.00 

Julia  Bullock  500.00 

Charles  H.  Smith 100.00 

6,600.00 

Life  Membership  5,600.00 

Book  Fund  3,0 1  2.41 

Reserve 926.60 

Revolving  Publication  Fund 257.95 

Surplus  12,583.65 

Surplus  Income  Account 508.68 


$111,347.81 


64  RHODE  ISLAND  (HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

PRINCIPAL  ACCOUNT  FOR  THE  YEAR   1938 

Receipts 

Indianapolis  Power  &  Light $  1,040.00 

Reserve  Fund  5  19.86 

Revolving  Publication  Fund 2.50 


$    1,562.36 
Balance  January   1,   1938 2,344.56 

$3,906.92 

Payments 

Gulf  State   Utilities $    1,060.50 

Reserve  Fund  285.14 

$1,345.64 
Balance  January   1,   1939 2,561.28 

$3,906.92 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Robert  T.  Downs, 

Treasurer 

January  1939 


Rhode    Island 
Historical     Society 


Col  leg 


(3^ >^/yi-n;M^z!iz2i.im/  ^ ^    Ky[Sk.SAA.\        9  J. 


JIIK    KI-KKrVVOOI)    KNGRAVING    OF    THE    GREAT    STORM    OF     1815 

Trniii  original  in  the  Socifiy's  library 


Issued  Quarterly 


68  Waterman  Street,  Providence,  Rhode  Island 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


September  Gale  of  1  8  1  5       .  .  .  .  .   cover 


The  Signing  of  the  Compact  and 

The  Purchase  of  Aquidneck 

by  Edward  H.  West 65 


Providence  Letters  of  Marque  of  1812  .  .  78 


The  Journal  of  Capt.  Tillinghast  .  .  .  80 


Early  Ship  Protests  ......  84 


The  Arms  of  Richard  Scott 

by  Richard  Le  Baron  Bowen         .  .  .  87 


RHODE       ^^¥|^       ISLAND 
HISTORICAL     ^^^mj  SOCIETY 

COLLECTIONS 


Vol.  XXXII  JULY,   1939  No.  3 


Harry  Parsons  Cross,  Presideyit  Robert  T.  Downs,  Treasurer 

William  Davis  Miller,  Secretary  Howard  M.  Chapin,  Librarian 


The  Society  assumes  no  responsibility  for  the  statements  or  the  opinions 
of  contributors. 


The  Signing  of  the  Compact 

and 
The  Purchase  of  Aquidneck 

By  Edward  H.  West 

The  so-called  Portsmouth  Compact  has  claimed  the 
attention  of  many  historians,  and  all  have  praised  it,  both 
for  its  civil  and  its  religious  aspects.  There  has  been  a 
difference  of  opinion,  however,  as  to  where  it  was  drawn  up, 
some  few  claiming  it  was  made  in  Providence,  while  the 
majority  give  Boston  as  the  place  where  it  was  made  and 
signed.  No  one  gives  any  sufficient  reason  for  his  belief 
in  either  place. 

Aside  from  the  date  of  the  Compact  (7  March  1637/8  ), 
there  are  two  records  which  give  considerable  information 
on  this  subject,  and  definitely  indicate  that  the  document 
was  drawn  before  the  men  who  signed  it  left  Boston. 

First,  there  is  the  letter  from  Thomas  Dudley  to  John 
Winthrop,  dated  19  of  ye  12  1637',  which  says  "In  answer 

^  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll.    Ser.  4,  v.  7. 


p^|i-;.f^^/^£%^i'.r 


r'        / 


.■<-' 


THE  COMPACT 
RECORDS  OF  THE  ISLAND  OF  R.  I.,  PAGE  ONE 


THE  SIGNING  OF  THE   COMPACT  67 

to  yours,  and  to  what  Mr.  Coddington  hath  by  word  men- 
tioned, I  say  as  foUoweth,  that  I  am  content  himself,  Mr. 
Wildbore,  Mr.  Coggeshall,  Goodman  Freeborne  &  Richard 
Carder  shall  have  lycense  to  depart  out  of  the  Patent,  within 
a  month  from  hence  following  ( this  '-jcould  be  19  Maixh 
1637/8)  and  after  to  retourne  at  their  pleasures  to  remove 
their  famyles,  so  it  be  within  half  a  yeare  from  this  date,  — 
only  Mr.  Coddington  and  Mr.  Wildbore  are  to  come  &  goe, 
&  trade  &  comerce,  and  take  their  own  tyme  for  removall  of 
their  famyles.  Likewise  Serjeant  Hutchinson  &  Serjeant 
Boston  and  John  Porter,  I  consent  to  their  departure  and 
the  release  of  their  fines,  provided  that  they  shall  depart 
before  the  thirteenth  of  the  next  month,  &  not  return  any 
more  ." 

This  shows  that  William  Coddington  had  been  making- 
plans  for  removal  for  some  time  before  the  date  of  Dudley's 
letter,  and  although  he  was  favored  in  Dudley's  letter,  and 
subsequent  records  show  that  he  never  broke  off  entirely 
with  the  Bay  Colony,  it  was  for  his  own  advancement  and 
proht  that  he  w^as  at  the  head  of  the  movement  for  removal 
to  another  place.  As  to  the  last  three  names  mentioned  in 
this  letter,  Dudley  insists  that  they  shall  leave  before  the 
thirteenth  of  March,  the  first  definite  date  found  in  regard 
to  their  removal. 

Second,  at  the  meeting  of  the  General  Court,  12th  1  mo 
1637/8',  it  is  shown  that  "Mr.  Coddington,  Mr.  John 
Coggeshall,  William  Baulston,  Edward  Hutchinson,  Sam- 
uel Wilbore,  John  Porter,  John  Compton,  Henry  Bull, 
Philip  Sherman,  William  Freeborne  &  Richard  Carder, 
having  license  to  depart,  summons  is  to  go  out  for  them  to 
appear  (if  they  not  be  gone  before)  at  the  next  Court." 
Although  this  has  been  mentioned  in  most  accounts  of  that 
time,  very  little  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  w^ording  of 
the  Warrant  which  follows  the  above  record,  which  reads  — 

"Whereas  you  have  desired  and  obtained  a  license  to 
remove  your  selves  &  your  families  out  of  this  jurisdiction, 

-  Mass.  Coll.  Records,  v.  I . 


r.^i 


/ 


.a 


>,/«.„.  ^/>--''^ ./.^^-A'.'J-.-^^^. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  ISLAND  OF  R.  I.,  PAGE  TWO 


THE  SIGNING  OF  THE  COMPACT  69 

&  for  that  information  hath  been  given  to  this  Court  that 
your  intent  is  only  to  withdraw  your  selves  for  a  season, 
that  you  may  avoid  the  censure  of  the  Court  in  some  things 
which  may  bee  objected  against  you,  the  Court  therefore 
order  that  you  depart  according  to  the  license  given  you,  so 
as  your  families  may  be  removed  before  the  next  General 
Court."  From  this  second  record  it  would  seem  as  if  Dudley 
looked  ahead  to  the  date  of  the  sitting  of  the  Court  when  he 
specified  that  the  last  three  men  mentioned  in  his  letter, 
should  be  gone  before  the  thirteenth  of  March.  They 
could  not  leave  before  they  procured  their  license  to  go, 
which  could  not  be  obtained  before  the  Court  met  on  the 
12th,  hence  all  signers  of  the  Compact  must  have  been  in 
Boston  on  the  7th,  the  date  on  which  it  was  signed. 

It  is  unfortunate  that  we  have  only  John  Clarke's  account 
of  the  journey  to  the  Island  of  Aquidneck,  as  he  left  out 
many  things  that  we  would  like  to  know.  This  journey  has 
not  been  given  serious  thought  by  any  of  the  historians 
except  Mr.  Howard  M.  Chapin,  in  his  Documentary 
History  of  Rhode  Island. 

John  Clarke  says  that  they  left  Boston  in  the  Spring"", 
which  I  do  not  think  can  be  taken  seriously,  as  to  the  date, 
especially  as  Winthrop  says  in  regard  to  that  season  "This 
was  a  very  hard  winter.  The  snow  lay  from  November  4 
to  March  23  half  a  yard  deep  about  the  Massachusetts  — 
and  the  spring  was  very  backward."  With  the  snow  on  the 
ground,  or  melting,  it  would  have  been  more  than  two  days 
journey  to  Providence.  After  they  arrived  there  the  situa- 
tion had  to  be  talked  over  with  Roger  Williams.  Then,  on 
his  advice,  Roger  Williams,  John  Clarke,  and  two  others 
(why  did  he  not  give  their  names?  )  journeyed  to  Plymouth 
to  determine  what  land  they  could  procure  j  all  of  which 
took  time. 

According  to  John  Clarke^,  the  vessel,  which  had  sailed 
from  Boston  bearing  some  members  of  the  party  around 


^  111  Newes  from  New  England,  Dr.  John  Clarke. 


70  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Cape  Cod,  was  expected  in  Providence,  but  had  not  arrived 
when  the  party  left  for  Plymouth.  From  this  same  source 
we  learn  that  after  the  mission  was  accomplished  at  Ply- 
mouth the  committee  returned  to  Providence.  John  Clarke 
gives  no  detail  of  the  purchase  of  Aquidneck,  and  possibly 
he  was  not  at  Narragansett  when  the  purchase  was  made,  but 
fortunately  there  is  a  deposition  made  by  William  Codding- 
ton^  in  which  can  be  found  many  of  the  details. 

Coddington  describes  in  the  deposition  how  they  went 
to  the  Island  and  saw  the  Indian  Sachem  there,  who  in- 
formed them  that  they  would  have  to  see  the  Chief  Sachems 
at  Narragansett  "whereupon  this  deponant,  with  some 
others,  went  from  Aquidneck  Island  unto  the  Narragansett 
to  the  said  Sachems."  Of  the  "some  others"  we  have  Roger 
Williams  who  drew  up  the  deed,  Randal  Houlden  who 
witnessed  it,  as  well  as  John  Sanford,  John  Porter,  Richard 
Carder,  and  William  Dyre,  alJ  making  depositions  in  regard 
to  the  gift  of  the  little  island  to  William  Dyre'\ 

Taking  all  the  above  into  consideration,  the  journey  of 
the  vessel  around  Cape  Cod  to  Providence,  then  the  trip 
from  Providence  to  Aquidneck  and  thence  to  Narragansett, 
where  the  sale  of  Aquidneck  was  made  on  the  24th  of 
March,  twelve  days  after  they  had  obtained  their  license  to 
depart,  it  is  certain  that  of  the  twelve  days,  very  few  could 
have  been  spent  in  Boston,  and  consequently  the  departure 
from  Boston  must  have  been  made  very  soon  after  the 
license  to  depart  was  procured. 

It  is  very  probable  that  the  trip  from  Providence  to 
Aquidneck  and  Narragansett  was  made  in  the  vessel  that 
brought  some  of  the  party  around  the  Cape.  As  both  Codd- 
ington and  Wilbore  are  referred  to  in  Dudley's  letter  as 
being  in  "trade  and  comerce,"  it  is  possible  that  the  vessel 
belonged  to  one  of  them.  Or,  as  we  learn  from  the  note 
book  of  Thomas  Letchford^  that  John  Coggeshall,  William 
Hutchinson,  Thomas  Savage,  and  William  Dyre  were  part 

*  Rhode  Island  Col.  Records,  1-51. 
=  Rhode  Island  Col.  Records,  1-267. 


THE  SIGNING  OF  THE  COMPACT  71 

owners  of  a  wharf  and  warehouse  in  Boston,  it  may  have 
been  a  vessel  belonging  to  one,  or  more,  of  these  men.  That 
the  vessel  returned  to  Aquidneck  from  Narragansett,  is 
shown  by  the  deposition  of  William  Coddington"  which 
says  —  "I  doe  affirm  that  wee  the  Purchasers  of  Rhode 
Island  (my  selfe  being  the  chief)  William  Dyre  desiring 
a  spot  of  land  of  us  as  we  passed  by  it,  after  we  had  purchased 
the  said  Island,  did  grant  him  our  Right  in  the  said  island 
&  named  it  Dyres  Island."  Had  they  returned  to  Provi- 
dence from  Narragansett,  they  would  not  have  seen  this 
island,  as  it  lies  between  Aquidneck  and  Prudence  Islands, 
far  off  their  course  had  they  sailed  to  Providence. 

No  doubt  some  of  the  men  started  in  immediately  to  clear 
the  land  around  the  cove  ( called  Sanf ords  Cove  in  some  of 
the  early  records)  for  their  new  settlement,  their  families 
possibly  staying  in  Providence  while  this  work  was  going  on. 
Certainlv  much  work  had  to  be  done  on  the  Island  between 
the  24th  of  March,  when  they  purchased  it,  and  the  13th 
of  May,  when  they  held  their  first  town  meeting.  Probably 
the  land  was  cleared  around  the  cove  and  the  settlement  was 
made  before  thought  was  given  to  laws  or  anything  else. 
And  it  appears,  from  the  records,  that  this  first  settlement 
was  temporary,  as  —  "//;<?  Towne  shall  be  budded  at  the 
springe"  according  to  the  second  record  made  at  this  first 
meeting.  After  they  had  erected  some  sort  of  Shelter  they 
began  to  think  about  laws,  as  well  as  the  legal  allotments 
of  their  land,  and  from  that  time  their  records  show  that 
laws  were  made  as  the  occasion  demanded. 

In  regard  to  the  signers  of  the  Compact  two  questions 
arise,  one  of  which  has  been  discussed  several  times  by  as 
many  historians  j  but  never,  to  my  knowledge,  has  the 
second  been  mentioned. 

The  first  question  involves  the  names  that  have  been 
erased  from  the  bottom  of  the  Compact,  Thomas  Clarke, 
John  Johnson,  William  Hall,  and  John  Brightman.  These 

^  Note  Book  of  Thomas  Lctchford,  American  Antiquarian  Soc. 


^      <?  i     i.    Q">  f  »  •«  '■  '"^l    '•■  h  f 


■■"•^tJ-.  ♦'       c^_-.«x-    #-ti«.     »V»-»»'^ 


RECORDS  OF  THE  ISLAND  OF  R.  I.,  PAGE  THREE 


■i?  /? 


ASPINVVALL  S  NOTARIAL  RECORDS 


^/ 


JOHN  CLARKE  TO  THE  GENERAL  COURT 


THE  SIGNING  OF  THE  COMPACT  77i 

men,  with  the  exception  of  Brightman,  were  all  admitted 
Inhabitants  of  the  Colony,  20  May  1638,  at  the  third  meet- 
ing of  the  settlers,  and  were  among  the  first  nine  men 
admitted.  Taking  the  known  records  of  these  men,  we  find 
that  with  the  exception  of  Johnson,  no  mention  of  them  is 
made  before  the  date  of  their  admission,  either  in  the  Bay 
Colony^  or  Plymouth.  In  fact  nothing  further  can  be  found 
of  John  Brightman,  and  I  think  that  we  can  safely  leave 
him  out  of  all  further  consideration. 

The  General  Court,  at  its  meeting  of  12th  1  mo  1637/8, 
warns  John  Johnson  of  Mount  WoUaston,  one  of  "Mr. 
Coddington's  men,  to  be  removed  before  the  next  Court." 
This  shows  that  he  was  probably  William  Coddington's 
farmer,  and  would  not  have  been  in  a  position  to  purchase 
land  with  the  others.  As  no  mention  is  made  of  Thomas 
Clarke  and  William  Hall  in  the  Boston  records,  it  is  very 
probable  that  they  arrived  in  Boston  while  the  Hutchinson 
controversy  was  going  on,  in  fact  they  may  have  arrived  in 
November  on  the  ship  with  John  Clarke,  and  may  have 
been  among  those  who  were  given  permission  to  land.  A 
suggestion  has  been  made  that  possibly  their  names  were 
erased  when  they  left  the  Island,  but  both  Clarke  and  Hall 
stayed  on  the  Island  until  they  died,  Clarke  in  1674  and 
Hall  in  1675.  There  seems  also  to  be  a  mistaken  idea  as 
to  the  town  to  which  these  men  were  admitted,  Newport 
being  the  place  mentioned  in  some  accounts,  when  in  fact, 
at  the  time  they  were  admitted,  Newport  had  not  been 
thought  of,  and  at  the  time  of  their  admittance  the  only 
settlement  was  at  the  north  end  of  the  island. 

With  these  facts,  and  the  question  following,  it  would 
seem  as  if  these  men  were  not  among  the  first  settlers  of  the 
Island,  and  were  not  the  original  signers  of  the  Compacty 
and  that  their  names  were  added  through  some  mistake,  or 
possibly  some  one  had  them  sign  their  names  for  an  un- 
known reason  of  his  own,  later  crossing  them  out. 

The  mere  fact  that  these  men  were  admitted  Inhabitants, 
instead  as  Proprietors  or  Freemen,  as  were  the  signers  of 


74  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

the  Compact,  shows  that  their  names  have  no  place  on 
the  Compact. 

The  second  question  I  wish  to  bring  up  concerns  the 
deposition  made  by  William  Coddington,  14  April  1652', 
when  he  said  "Whereas  there  was  an  agreement  of  eighteen 
persons  to  make  purchase  of  some  place  to  the  southward 
for  a  plantation."  Had  he  forgotten  just  how  many  men 
there  were,  or  had  he  purposely  left  one  of  the  signers  out, 
and  if  so,  which  one.'^ 

In  the  margins  of  the  pages  recording  the  first  nine 
meetings  on  the  Island  (13th  3mo  1638  to  2nd  llmo 
1638),  there  is  a  list  of  names,  apparently  those  of  the  men 
who  attended  the  meetings.  Of  the  signers  of  the  Compact , 
all  but  two,  William  Aspinwall  and  Thomas  Savage,  are 
mentioned  at  the  majority  of  those  meetings.  We  know 
that  William  Aspinwall  was  on  the  Island,  although  it  is 
shown  that  he  was  not  in  the  good  graces  of  the  Coddington 
followers.  This  does  not  seem  strange  as  he  was  always 
getting  into  trouble  with  some  one,  but  it  is  certain  that  he 
was  on  the  Island  for  some  time,  the  latest  time  his  name 
appearing  on  the  records  being  16th  12  mo  1639.  On  the 
10th  of  the  same  month  he  was  granted  200  acres  of  land 
near  Sandy  Point,  but  no  further  mention  of  this  land  is 
made  until  1661,  when  it  is  called  in  "the  possession  of 
Edward  Hutchinson." 

Of  Thomas  Savage  there  is  no  record  on  the  Island  except 
when  he  is  mentioned  in  the  1641  list  of  Freemen,  but  it  is 
in  the  Boston  records  that  we  find  most  about  him.  Although 
he  was  among  those  disarmed,  he  does  not  appear  in  the 
record  of  those  who  had  license  to  depart.  From  the  Boston 
Town  Records  we  find  that  he  bought  land  at  Muddy  River, 
21st  11  mo  1638,  that  he  was  mentioned  three  times  in  1640 
in  connection  with  land  grants  in  the  Bay  Colony,  and  that 
he  paid  for  land  in  1642.  Aside  from  this  we  find  that  his 
wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Anne  Hutchinson,  had  children 
born  and  baptized  in  Boston  in  1638  and  1639,  as  well  as  in 

'  Rhode  Island  Col.  Records,  1-50. 


THE  SIGNING  OF  THE   COMPACT  75 

1 643,  SO  it  would  appear  that  his  stay  at  Aquidneck  (if  any) 
was  very  short.  It  seems  to  me  that  if  William  Coddington 
had  meant  to  leave  out  one  of  the  signers,  Thomas  Savage 
was  the  one. 

There  is  a  line  apparently  drawn  through  the  name  of 
Thomas  Savage  on  the  Compact,  but  this  probably  is  of  no 
consequence,  as  the  names  of  John  Clarke  and  John  Cogge- 
shall  also  have  lines  through  them,  and  certainly  their  place 
in  the  Colony  can  not  be  questioned. 

None  of  the  various  historians  ever  tried  to  name  the 
writer  of  the  Compact  until  Thomas  Bicknell,  in  his  "Story 
of  Dr.  John  Clarke"  said  that  it  was  probably  written  by 
Clarke.  Dr.  Wilbur  Nelson  in  his  "Hero  of  Aquidneck" 
says  that  Dr.  Clarke  did  write  the  Compact.  Unfortunately 
Dr.  Nelson  has  followed  Bicknell  too  closely,  and  evidently 
has  not  studied  the  original  records  at  all,  or  he  would  not 
also  have  said  that  William  Dyre  was  elected  Clerk  at  the 
time  of  the  signing  of  the  Compact^  nor  that  the  Island  was 
purchased  at  Providence. 

Very  probably  Bicknell,  himself,  did  not  use  the  original 
records  of  Rhode  Island,  but  depended  on  Bartlett's  tran- 
scriptions, which  are  full  of  errors.  William  Aspinwall  was 
appointed  secretary  on  the  day  that  the  Compact  was  signed, 
as  is  shown  on  Page  2  of  the  Records  of  the  Island  of  Rhode 
Island.  On  Page  3  of  the  same  book,  are  the  first  records 
made  on  the  Island,  13  May  1638,  and  at  the  top  of  the 
page,  in  the  handwriting  of  William  Dyre,  who  wrote  the 
records  for  many  months,  is  the  agreement  that  Dyre  is  to 
be  clerk.  The  deposition  of  William  Coddington,  already 
mentioned,  shows  that  the  Island  was  purchased  at  Narra- 
gansett,  not  Providence. 

It  seems  strange  that  Bicknell  based  the  probability  of 
John  Clarke's  having  written  the  Compact  mainly  on  the 
strength  of  "its  religious  sentiment."  At  the  time  when  the 
Compact  was  written,  the  Bay  Colony  had  just  suppressed 
the  followers  of  Anne  Hutchinson  in  what  appears  to  have 
been  the  beginning  of  a  religious  war.   Then  every  family 


76  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

depended  on  and  studied  the  Bible  as  an  answer  to  all 
problems.  Henry  Leland  Chapman*'  states  the  condition 
of  the  people  of  that  time  as  follows  "Religion,  and  religion 
in  its  most  intellectual  and  theological  aspect,  was  the  com- 
mon vocation  of  the  people,  and  they  hurried  through  what 
might  be  called  the  exacting  chores  of  life  in  order  that  they 
might  give  themselves  to  frequent  and  protracted  seasons 
of  worship  and  religious  instruction,  and  theological  dis- 
putation." How,  under  these  conditions,  can  it  be  said  that 
any  one  man  wrote  a  paper  with  "religious  sentiment,"  and 
that  man  be  named,  without  proof? 

The  admirers  of  John  Clarke  must  not  forget  that 
William  Coddington  was  at  the  head  of  the  movement  to 
found  a  new  colony,  and  that  everything  was  done  at  Cod- 
dington's  orders,  notwithstanding  the  statement  of  John 
Clarke ■',  that  it  was  at  Clarke's  suggestion  that  the  decision 
was  made  to  move  from  the  Bay  Colony.  While  it  is  to  Anne 
Hutchinson  that  the  credit  of  the  founding  of  Rhode  Island 
must  be  given,  for  it  was  the  quality  of  her  disarmed  follow- 
ers that  led  to  the  founding  of  a  separate  colony,  which  under 
other  men  would  probably  have  been  absorbed  by  either 
Massachusetts  or  Connecticut  or  both  j  none  the  less  it  is  to 
William  Coddington  that  the  credit  of  the  actual  founding 
of  the  colony  must  be  made,  as  it  was  through  his  wealth 
and  influence  (in  spite  of  some  of  his  later  acts)  that  other 
men  of  influence  settled  there,  and  eventually  developd 
what  is  now  the  State  of  Rhode  Island.  Does  it  not  seem 
strange  that  a  young  man  like  John  Clarke,  without  previous 
experience  in  a  wild  country,  such  as  ours  was  when  he 
arrived,  should  have  been  given  the  authority  that  he  seems 
to  assume  in  his  tract^?  As  he  did  not  arrive  in  Boston  until 
November  1637,  he  had  no  knowledge  of  the  heat  of  the 
previous  summer,  and  certainly  could  not  have  told,  from 
his  own  experience,  that  the  following  winter  was  unusually 
severe.  His  mention  of  "some  others"  who  accompanied  him 
is  certainly  not  definite,  and  one  can  not  tell  whether  they 

®  Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson,  Prof.  Henry  Leland  Chapman. 


THE  SIGNING   OF  THE   COMPACT  77 

were  new  arrivals  or  men  who  had  been  in  the  Bay  Colony 
for  some  time.  It  does  not  seem  possible  that  any  of  the 
Boston  men,  who  were  connected  with  the  removal,  would 
think  of  a  new  colony  to  the  north,  as  John  Clarke  implies, 
as  they  all  had  been  in  the  Bay  Colony  long  enough  to  know 
how  much  farther  north  they  must  go  to  escape  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  Bay,  and  it  would  seem  as  if  this  northern  trip 
was  made  by  newcomers  who  were  ignorant  of  the  true  con- 
ditions of  the  country.  It  will  be  noticed  that  John  Clarke" 
makes  no  mention  of  the  Cojupact,  or  any  other  agreement, 
except  the  one  which  provided  that  some  of  the  party  should 
travel  by  land  while  the  vessel  went  around  Cape  Cod.  I 
am  convinced  that  had  John  Clarke  drawn  up,  or  written  the 
Compact y  he  most  certainly  would  have  mentioned  it  in  his 
tract,  and  he  claims  no  credit  for  the  authorship. 

Before  John  Clarke  arrived  in  Boston,  a  "Petition  or 
Remonstrance"  against  the  conviction  of  Wheelwright,  was 
presented  to  the  General  Court.''' ^"'^^  Although  the  Petition 
was  presented  in  March  1636/7,  it  was  not  used  by  the 
Court  until  the  following  November,  and  was  then  used 
against  the  signers  ( who  numbered  over  sixty')  and  was 
really  the  cause  of  the  disarming  of  the  followers  of  Anne 
Hutchinson. 

A  reading  of  this  Petition  will  show  that  it  has  a  religious 
sentiment,  with  frequent  Bible  references,  as  did  most  of 
the  papers  of  that  time,  including  the  Compact.  Unfor- 
tunately the  Petition  has  been  lost,  although  it  is  reproduced 
in  the  story  told  by  Welde,  as  well  as  in  a  footnote  in 
Winthrop's  history,'"*' "  and  we  have  the  word  of  both  Welde 
and  Winthrop  that  this  Petition  was  written  by  William 
Aspinwall,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Compact,  a  man  well 
known  as  a  writer,  who,  when  he  was  permitted  to  return 
to  Boston,  was  made  Clerk  of  the  Court,  as  well  as  a  Notary 
Public. 


"  Rise,  Reign  and  Ruin,  Thomas  Welde. 
^^  Antinomianism,  Charles  Francis  Adams. 
'^  History  of  New  England,  John  Winthrop. 


78  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

A  comparison  of  the  handwriting  of  the  CoiJipact  and  the 
handwritings  of  William  Aspinwall,  as  seen  on  the  second 
page  of  the  Record  book,  as  well  as  in  the  extract  taken  from 
his  Notarial  Records,  shows,  without  any  doubt,  that  the 
Compact,  as  shown  in  the  Record  book,  was  certainly  written 
by  William  Aspinwall,  while  the  extract  from  John  Clarke's 
letter  shows  that  he  could  not  have  written  this  copy  of  the 
Compact.  In  absence  of  proof  of  Clarke's  authorship  it 
would  be  well  to  give  credit  to  Aspinwall,  who,  as  secretary 
of  the  body,  and  a  lawyer,  would  naturally  have  been  the 
one  to  have  drawn  up  this  document. 

The  intention  of  this  article  is  not  to  belittle  John  Clarke, 
but  to  give  credit  where  it  is  due.  Dr.  Clarke  has  a  very  fine 
monument  in  the  Charter  which  he  procured  for  this 
Colony,  but  the  records  fail  to  disclose  the  very  prominent 
part  which  some  claim  that  he  had  in  the  early  life  of  this 
Colony.  And  after  all  it  is  the  official  records  that  we  must 
use  in  order  to  know  the  truth,  anything  else  is  conjecture, 
and  if  one  uses  too  much  of  that  the  results  are  bound  to  be 
distorted,  and  although  we  may  have  a  very  pleasing  story, 
it  is  not  history.  It  depends  on  what  we  want — a  good  story 
or  history — on  what  we  shall  base  our  facts,  or  how  we  shall 
read  the  records. 


Providence  Letters  of  Marque 
Issued  in  the  War  of  1812 

Abstract  of  Commissions  of  Letter  of  Marque  &c  issued 
in  the  District  of  Providence  in  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  & 
from  the  1 2  May  1  8 1 3  to  the  12  September  1814. 

58,  Geo.  P.  Stevenson,  John  HoUins,  Michael  McBlair 
and  John  S.  Hollins,  owners,  issued  August  14,  1813, 
Schooner  Sparrow,  Commander  Ezekiel  Hall,  first  lieuten- 
ant Daniel  Chace,  83  90/95  tons,  16  men,  1  carriage  gun, 
sureties  George  I.  Brown,  Thomas  P.  Ives. 


PROVIDENCE  LETTERS  OF   MARQUE  79 

59,  Moses  Eddy,  Saml  Eddy,  Benj  &  Joseph  Comstock, 
owners,  issued  October  16,  1813,  Sloop  Juno,  Comman- 
der William  Comstock,  first  lieutenant  Geo.  L.  Brown, 
54  75/95  tons,  5  men,  1  carriage  gun,  1  swivel,  sureties 
Samuel  Currie,  James  Currie. 

60,  Isaac  Bowen,  Jr.,  Saml  Currie,  Richd  Olney,  Jereh 
Munro,  owners,  issued  October  18,  1813,  Sloop  Huntress, 
Commander  James  Currie,  first  lieutenant  Wm.  Arnold, 
99  51/95  tons,  8  men,  2  carriage  guns,  sureties  Moses 
Eddy,  Wm.  Comstock. 

922,  Geo.  Coggeshall,  E.  Minor  Jr.,  David  Miles,  Wm. 
Strong,  Wm.  M.  Miles,  John  J.  Minor,  Jonathan  Law- 
rence, Jr.,  owners,  issued  November  9,  1813,  schooner 
David  Porter,  Commander  George  Coggeshall,  first  lieu- 
tenant Saml.  McNicholes,  192  33/95  tons,  30  men,  6  car- 
riage guns,  sureties  Edward  Carrington,  Hy  P.  Franklin. 

923,  John  Richard,  James  Case  owners,  issued  Novem- 
ber 22,  1813,  Schooner  \'iper,  commander  Domingo 
Dithurbide,  first  lieutenant  Wm.  Earle,  303  37/95  tons, 
40  men,  4  carriage  guns,  20  muskets,  sureties  Frederick 
Brunei,  Gurdon  S.  Mumford. 

Sept  12,  1814 

Thos  Coles  Col 

924,  Peter  H.  Schenck  &  Martin  W.  Brett,  owners, 
issued  December  13,  1814,  Brig  Morgiana,  commander 
George  H.  Fellows,  first  lieutenant  John  Hariltor,  270 
43/95  tons,  100  men,  14  carriage,  sureties  Henry  Cowing, 
George  Weeden. 

925,  William  Keith,  Isaac  Jenny  &  x\bijah  Luce,  owners, 
issued  December  27,  1814,  Schooner  "Sine  qua  non"  alias 
William  commander  Abijah  Luce,  first  lieutenant  Joseph 
Breck,  1  73  85/95  tons,  80  men,  7  carriage,  sureties  Wheeler 
Martin,  William  Valentine. 

926,  Peter  H.  Schenck  &  Martin  W.  Brett  owners,  issued 
January  2,  1815,  Brig  Scourge,  Commander  Charles  W. 


80  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Wooster,  first  lieutenant  Lothrop  Turner,  250  tons,   110 
men,  9  carriage  sureties  Henry  Cowing,  George  Weeden. 

Jany  10,  1815  Thos  Coles  Col 

(From  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society  Manuscripts,  X\'II,   115.) 
Note:  The  numbers  are  apparently  federal,  not  local,  numbering. 

— Editor 

The  Journal  of  Capt.  Tillinghast 

(concluded  fro>ii  Page  1 6) 

Sunday  1 6  This  day  fair  weather  went  over  to  sea  M'" 
Rokes  try''  for  to  shute  some  Pigeons  but  could  not  get 
aney  went  to  drive  up  the  Horses  found  they  had  got 
out  of  the  Pasture  returnd  and  sent  Peter  Fisher  out 
but  could  not  find  them  this  afternon  went  out  took 
another  look  but  could  not  find  them  rain  this  night 
singin  shooll  at  the  hall  this  afternoon 

Monday  1 7  This  day  commences  cloudy  took  up  staks  at 
9  "Clock  went  in  persute  of  the  Horses  at  which  time 
it  began  to  rain  went  through  the  woods  to  M''  Grangers 
whare  we  heard  of  them  Col.  Berry  having  tawn  them 
up  this  morning  on  the  rode  to  Troy  M'  G.  offerd  a 
Horse  sent  S.  Scovill  after  them  returnd  home  at  12 
"Clock  continued  rainy  all  the  time  later  past  light 
squalls  of  rain  so  ends  this  day  cloudy 

Tuesday  1 8'''  This  day  commences  fair  weather  after 
brackfast  took  the  Gig  went  down  to  Gen"  Gansiford 
saw  a  most  capitall  saw  mill  with  a  gang  of  1 3  saws  and 
a  good  Grist  mill  plenty  of  Logs  Boards  &  Plank  stop 
at  Cap'  Thompson  mill  a  gang  of  1 5  saws  returnd  to 
Dinner  after  which  took  the  Chaise  and  started  for 
Balltown  arrived  at  sunsett  so  Ends  this  day 

Wednesday  1 9  This  day  commences  with  heavy  rain  at  1 0 
"Clock  more  moderate  light  squalls  and  rain  at  1 2  "Clock 
started  for  Northumberland  stop  at  Homes  found  no 
letters  started  on  just  as  we  enterd  on  the  planes  began 


THE  JOURNAL  OF  CAPT.  TILLINGHAST  81 

to  rain  very  fast  attended  with  Thunder  &  lightning 
continued  untill  a  cross  them  (the  plains)  then  held  up. 
obliged  to  get  out  going  up  hill  it  being  clay  and  very 
slippery  all  most  impossible  to  get  up  or  down  arrived 
at  dark  at  P.  L,  M.  20  mile  so  End  this  day 

Thursday  Sep""  20*''  This  day  commences  foggey  &  flying 
clouds  at  1  1  "Clock  tackl''  up  and  went  down  to  E.  Rey- 
nolds P.  L.  M.  Z.  M.  A.  M.  &  W.  E.  T.  was  very 
agreably  entertaind.  Rost  Pig  &  a  most  execlent  loin  of 
Veal  for  dinner  this  day  at  9  "Clock  returnd  very  cold 
and  heavy  frost  this  night  so  ends  this  day 

Friday  2 1  This  day  fair  weather  and  moderate  over  hauld 
the  Carriages  greast  Wheals  moved  the  Chain  farther 
back  on  the  thourong  Braces  at  5  "Clock  tackl''  up  and 
took  in  Amey  and  went  up  to  N.  Tillinghast  so  ends 
this  day  fair  weather 

Saturday  22  This  day  commences  fair  weather  after  brack- 
fast  got  into  a  Waggon  and  went  down  to  P.  L.  M.  help 
him  get  a  frame  for  a  Chaise  house  and  carted  two  loads 
of  slabs  from  Thompsons  mills  at  night  returnd  to 
N.  T.  so  Ends  this  day 

Sunday  23  This  day  commences  fair  weather  tackl''  up 
went  down  to  P.  L.  M.  and  he  &  Mrs.  Mawney  joind 
us  went  up  to  Glans  falls  at  night  returnd  by  Cadwell's 
to  N.  T.  so  Ends  this  day 

Monday  24  This  day  commences  fair  weather  in  the 
morning  went  down  to  P.  L.  M.  to  help  build  a  Chaise 
house  at  night  returnd  to  N.  T.  after  compleating  the 
house  &  boarding  up  part  of  the  Barn  so  Ends  this  day 
fair  weather  and  cold  nights 

Tuesday  25  This  day  commences  fair  weather  at  10  °Clock 
started  for  P.  L.  M.  help  build  two  mangers  at  2  °Clock 
started  for  Fort  Edward  crost  the  river  at  CoF  Rogers 
attended  the  Lodge  at  1 1  "Clock  arrived  home  after 
being  politly  treated  So  Ends  this  day 


82  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Wednesday  26  This  day  commences  fair  weather  went  to 
work  reparing  Barn  building  fowell  house  in  the  after- 
noon H.  &  A.  came  down  at  night  returnd  with  them 
so  ends  this  day 

Thursday  27  This  day  commences  with  cloudy  weather 
at  10  "Clock  clear  went  out  with  N.  to  the  foot  of 
Palmer  Town  mountains  returnd  at  3  "Clock  P.  M. 
found  Amey  &  Hanah  employd  at  blagarding  each 
other  so  ends  this  day  with  flying  clouds 

Friday  28  This  day  commences  fair  weather  walkd  down  to 
P.  L.  M.  with  N.  found  he  had  gone  to  Troy  nothing 
remarkable  this  day 

Saturday  29  This  day  commences  fair  weather  &  could 
greast  wheals  brushd  Chaise  &c  at  10  "Clock  started  for 
Glans  Falls  arrived  at  1  "  Clock  at  Twings  7  miles  at 
2y2  "Clock  started  for  Lake  George  arrived  at  Stiles 
Inn  @  5  "Clock  9  miles  on  the  west  side  of  the  Lake 
one  mile  from  the  head  a  good  House  &  fared  well  so 
ends  this  day  clear  &  cold  strong  gales  at  North 

Sunday  Sep  30,  1804  This  day  commences  fair  wether 
light  air  at  South  get  ready  to  goe  down  to  dimond 
Island  14  miles  at  8  "Clock  strong  breazes  at  N  W.  gave 
up  the  idea  of  going  oif  on  the  Lake  went  out  to  vew  the 
remains  of  the  old  fort  Prince  William  Henry  with  the 
old  Buring  grounds  saw  the  remains  of  the  French 
intrenchment  that  whare  hove  up  at  the  time  the  Fort 
surrenderd  found  some  of  the  wall  and  old  timber 
that  formerly  composed  the  brest  work.  The  Buring 
ground  aboutht  4  Akers.  at  3  "Clock  started  to  return 
stop*  at  the  head  of  the  Lake  to  vew  Fort  George 
the  walls  of  which  are  of  stone  &  lime  coverd  with  dirt 
and  are  in  a  maner  all  standing  two  miles  from  this  on 
the  rode  East  side  is  Blody  pond  whare  the  Indians 
murderd  the  English  at  the  time  they  surrenderd  to 
the  French  stop  at  Wing  rested  then  started  for  N.  T. 


THE  JOURNAL  OF   CAPT.   TILLINGHAST  83 

arrived  at  8  ''Clock  cloudy  &  cold  so  ends  this  day — 
spits  of  Snow 

Monday  Oct.  1  This  day  commences  cloudy  litle  or  no 
wind  &  could  after  brakfast  walkd  down  to  P.  L.  M. 
this  da\'  the  roade  was  apprised  that  runs  back  of  the 
House  at  500  $  which  occasiond  a  long  dispute  and  the 
most  simple  argument  and  many  unjust  occasiond  by 
party  returnd  to  N,  T.  at  12  "Clock  at  night  so  End 
this  day 

Tuesday  Oct.  2.  This  day  commences  fair  weather  at  10 
°Clock  started  with  P.  L.  M.  dined  at  Leas  Saritogo 
went  on  to  Balltown  spring  from  their  to  the  Post  office 
then  to  the  Court  House  then  to  T.  Patchens  whare  we 
taried  for  the  night  found  that  the  people  had  left  the 
spring  So  Ends  this  day 

Wednesday  Oct.  3.  This  day  commences  fair  weather  after 
Brackfast  went  down  to  the  Court  House  from  thence 
by  the  way  of  Balltown  Springs  to  W  Leas  at  Saritoga 
dined  then  precede  on  arrived  at  N  T.  at  5  °Clock 
enquired  at  the  Post  office  for  Letters  found  none  so 
ends  this  day  fair  weather 

Thursday  Oct.  4.  This  day  commences  fair  weather  turn'd 
out  early  kil'^  a  pig  maid  a  good  dinner  at  5  3^  "Clock 
caught  the  mare  found  one  of  her  fore  legs  much  chafed 
appeard  to  have  ben  done  by  tying  her  head  &  foot 
when  or  whare  I  cannot  learn  went  down  to  P.  L.  M. 
found  the  house  full  debating  upon  the  rode  disputes 
runing  high  so  ends  this  day 

Friday  5  This  day  commences  Cloudy  weather  found  the 
mares  leg  sweld  and  some  stiff  light  rains  cleand  Har- 
ness this  afternoon  went  with  P.  L.  M.  and  M"'  Cooper 
to  view  Bightley's  Spring  on  approaching  the  creek 
smellt  the  spring  some  distance  smelt  much  like  Bilg 
warter  on  tasting  it  resembled  gun  powder  &  warter 
got  caught  in  the  rain  returnd  at  7  °Clock  so  Ends  this 
day  Amey  &  M"  Mawney  at  Doct'  Ellis 


84  RHODE   ISLAND    HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

Saturday  6  This  day  commences  cloudy  with  light  rain  in 
the  afternoon  went  up  to  N  T  sent  the  Mare  to  get 
shodd  wash'^  her  Leg  found  it  some  better  so  Ends  this 
Day 

Sunday  7  Oct  This  day  commences  Cloudy  with  squalls  of 
rain  at  ^  past  1  1  "Clock  tackled  up  the  Chaise  Hanah 
&  Amey  startd  for  a  Methodis  mariage  &  Meating  got 
in  sight  of  the  house  found  they  had  turnd  out  all  ex- 
cept those  that  belong'^  to  the  meating  they  return*^ 
home.  Nicholass  &  myself  on  foot  so  Ends  this  day 
fair  wether 


11.     So  Tillinghast  ended  manv  an  entrv  in  his  ship's  logs. 
Other  entries  in  the  journal  are  also  reminiscent  of  his  life  at  sea. 


Early  Ship  Protests 

(continued  from  vol.  XXIX,  fage  32 ) 

These  ship  protests  are  entered  in  the  second  volume 
of  Rhode  Island  Land  Evidences  which  are  in  the 

State  Archives. 

By  this  publick  Instrument  of  proteste  be  it  known  .  .  . 
this  day  the  two  &  twentieth  of  March  1701  .  .  .  Came 
unto  mee  Weston  Clarke  publick  Recorder  ...  of  the 
Collony  of  Rhoad  Island  .  .  .  Benj.  Ellery  Master  of  the 
Ship  Thomas  &  Susanah'"  Burden  About  one  hundred  & 
Seventy  tons  belonging  to  the  Island  of  Barbados  in  the 
west  Indies  the  Sd  Master  declared  .  .  .  that  in  his  voyage 
Coming  from  Saltatudos"'"  &  bound  for  Virginia  Meatting 
with  A  Squall  of  wind  Lost  his  fore  top  mast  as  Allso  in 
the  Lattitude  of  thirty  three  had  a  greatt  Storme  &  in  Sd 
storme  Sprung  his  Maine  &  fore  Mast  the  wind  hanging 
in  the  westerne  Bord  was  Driven  farr  to  the  Northward 
by  the  wind  &  Currants  &  Did  after  Sd  Storme  Endevour 
to  gitt  Some  port  in  Order  to  Repaire  his  Sd  Ship  with 


EARLY  SHIP   PROTESTS  85 

Masts  which  proved  to  be  rhoad  Island  &  the  Sd  Master 
Not  knowing  what  Damage  is  done  .  .  .  Doth  thare  fore 
in  Such  Cases  provided  SoUomly  .  .  .  protest  Against  the 
Sd  Seas  &  badness  of  Weather  for  All  &  Every  parte  of 
the  Damages  Done  .  .  .  thare  by  unto  the  Sd  vessell  .  .  . 
or  unto  .  .  .  every  part  of  hir  Cargo  .  .  .  Entred  in  the 
publick  Records  .  .  .  the  day  &  yeare  Above  Written 

Samll  Cranston  Govr 

Benjamin  Ellery,  master;  Benjamin  Church,  mate;  and 
William  Hackney,  boatswain  acknowledged  this  instru- 
ment. (11,146) 
By  this  Publick  Instrumt  of  Protest  be  it  known  &  mani- 
fest that  this  day  being  the  Seventh  of  September  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  two  Came  before  me  Weston 
Clark  publick  Recorder  .  .  .  John  Cranston  master  of  the 
Sloop  Elizabeth  and  Sarah  burthen  about  seventy  tons 
and  Belonging  to  the  Towne  of  Newport  on  Rhoad  Island 
.  .  .  the  said  Master  declared  .  ,  .  that  being  at  anchor  in 
Caroloine  bay  in  the  Island  of  Barbados  on  the  Evleventh 
day  of  august  Last  past  was  by  Stress  of  winds  and  weather 
forst  from  his  Anchors  One  of  his  Cables  parting  the  other 
he  was  forst  to  Lett  slip  &  send  one  hand  in  his  boat  on 
shoar  but  the  Storme  .  .  .  continewing  soe  Vilently  all  that 
day  &  night  following  that  I  could  not  gett  in  nor  feth 

"■'  Benjamin  Ellery  was  a  Newport  man.  The  reason  that  his  ship 
hailed  from  Barbadoes  may  have  been  because  he  had  just  purchased  her 
there.  On  Feb.  2,  1702/3  this  vessel  was  commissioned  a  privateer,  at 
which  time  her  tonnage  was  estimated  at  180  tons. 

^^  Salt  Tortudas  or  Salt  Tortugas,  an  island  in  the  West  Indies  where 
salt  was  obtained,  can  be  identified  as  the  island  of  Tortuga  that  lies  in 
latitude  1 1  °  N  off  the  Coast  of  Venezuela,  cf.  Boston  News  Letter  Dec.  1 , 
1748.  The  English  Pilot  (p.  54,  Fourth  Book,  London  175  3)  referring 
to  the  island  of  Tortugas  which  lies  in  11°  N  off  the  west  end  of 
Margarita  says:  "And  there  is  more  salt  than  a  thousand  sail  of  ships  can 
carry.  All  the  Land  from  the  Salt  Pond  to  the  Roads  where  Ships  lie  is 
hard  strong  Ground,  but  about  a  league  E  Ward  the  shore  is  sanday  and 
even  level  with  the  sea  water  (where  there  is  very  good  white  salt  to  be 
had)  by  reason  the  Land  is  Low." 


86  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

the  place  wee  came  from  the  next  day  following  I  diet 
my  Endever  to  gett  in  but  in  Vaine  the  storme  being  soe 
Vilent  &  when  I  saw  that  thare  was  no  possibelety  of  geting 
into  the  bay  I  and  about  seaven  of  the  Clock  on  the 
twelf  Day  of  august  Stand  away  to  the  northward  in  order 
for  Rhoad  Island  having  that  day  overhaled  my  provitions 
and  found  it  short  not  more  on  bord  then  five  peses  met'' 
for  Men  &  boys  the  Sd  master  not  knowing  what  Damage 
may  be  done  or  Sustayneg  Either  to  the  Owners  fraighters 
merchants  of  this  said  Sloop  by  her  proseeding  hether  be- 
fore taking  in  her  Laading  or  Clering  according  to  Law 
at  the  usuale  place  of  Officers  Doth  therefore  according  to 
the  useuale  Custom  of  Marrin  affairs  and  the  Laws  thereof 
in  such  cases  provided  Solomnly  .  .  .  protest  against  the 
Sd  Storme  .  .  .  for  all  and  Every  part  of  the  Damage  done 
.  .  .  there  by  unto  the  owners  freighters  &  merchants  .  .  . 
done  by  mee  ...  on  board  the  Sd  Sloop  .  .  ,  this  present 
Vouage 

John  Cranston 

Sworne'''  the  day  and  yeare  Above  Written  Before  mee 

Samll  Cranston  Gov  ( II,  169) 


"'  meat 

"^  John  Brown  and  Francis  Pope  sign  as  witnesses. 


87 


The  Arms  of  Richard  Scott 


By  Richard  LeBaron  Bowen 

It  is  claimed,  but  not  proved,  that  the  Richard^  Scott* 
of  Glemsford,  co.  Suffolk,  England,  who  emigrated  to 
New  England,  was  admitted  to  the  church  at  Boston,  28 
August  1 634,  removed  to  Providence,  R.  I.,  was  descended 
from  the  family  of  Scott  of  Scott's  Hall,  county  of  Kent, 
England. 

Arms:  Silver  three  Catherine  wheels  sable ^ 

a  border  engrailed  gules. 
Crest:  A  demi  griffin  segreant  sable ^ 
beaked  and  legged  gold.'\ 


*Richard'  Scott,  d.  aht.  1680.  [Austin,  Gen.  Diet.  R.  /.,  page  372.] 
John-  Scott,  eldest  son,  d.  1677,  said  to  have  been  shot  by  an  Indian 
while  standing   in   the  doorway  of   his  own   house   at   Pawtucket 
Ferry.  [Austin,  Gen.  Diet.  R.  /.,  page  372.] 
JoHN^  5coTT,  eldest  son,  b.   1664;  his  mother  m.  (2)    1678,  when 
he  was  14  yrs.  old  ;  his  grandfather  Richard  d.  when  he  was  1  6  years 
old;  m.  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  Edward  and  Elizabeth  Wanton;  sister 
of  Col.  John  Wanton,  and  also  aunt  of  Gideon  Wanton,  both  Gov- 
ernors of  Rhode  Island.      \  Austin,  Gen.  Dirt.  R.  I.,  pages  373  and 
215]. 
Catherine'*  Scott,  3rd  dau.  and  child,  m.  1719,  Godfrey  Mat- 
bone,  Newport,  R.  I.,  merchant. 
'\Burke's  General  Armory,  page  906. 


88  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Among  the  documents  in  the  library  of  Frederick  S. 
Peck,  of  Belton  Court,  Barrington,  R.  L,  a  descendant  of 
Richard^  Scott,  is  the  original  deed  given  by  John''  Scott, 
grandson  of  Richard^  Scott,  dated  1712,  signed  by  John 
and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  and  sealed  with  red  sealing  wax. 
On  examination  of  these  wax  seals  the  present  writer  dis- 
covered that  the  seal  of  John  was  of  the  conventional 
knurl  design,  while  the  seal  of  his  wife  Elizabeth  was  an 
armorial  seal  of  three  Catherine  wheels ^  a  border  engratledy 
the  same  heraldic  charges  as  on  the  arms  of  Scott  of 
Scott's  Hall.  The  shield  shows  no  tinctures.  Over  the  helm 
is  a  crest  which  is  a  griffin's  head  erased. 

This  is  the  first  and  only  known  American  evidence 
showing  that  the  Richard^  Scott  family  of  Providence,  R.  I., 
claimed  connection  with  the  Scott  family  of  County  Kent, 
England,  which  fact  is  now  printed  for  the  first  time.  It 
is  also  the  discovery  of  a  new  coat  of  arms  used  in  the 
English  Colony  of  Rhode  Island. 

The  Scott  seal  on  this  deed  is  apparently  considerably 
older  than  the  1712  date  on  which  it  was  used,  and 
undoubtedly  was  cut  in  England,  for  on  comparison  the 
mantling  and  general  characteristics  are  found  to  be  very 
similar  to  the  seal  used  by  Richard"  Smith,  Jr.,  in  1671 
on  a  letter  to  John  Winthrop,  Governor  of  Connecticut,  ijl 

John''  Scott  was  a  Quaker,  which  may  have  been  the 
reason  why  he  did  not  use  his  armorial  seal.  It  was  fortu- 
nate for  those  living  227  years  after,  however,  that  he 
permitted  his  wife  to  use  it.  Martin  B.  Scott,^  writing  of 
the  family  in  1868,  says: 

"Had  Richard  Scott  brought  with  him  seals,  or 
other  emblems  of  his  ancestry,  a  rigid  Quaker  of 
those  times  would  have  esteemed  it  a  merit  to 
destroy  them  j  for  scarcely  a  portrait  is  presented  of 
the  great  and  eminent  Quakers  of  early  times,  so 
utterly  did  they  detest  the  fashions  of  the  world." 

%Original  letter  in  Winthrop  Papers,  Xo\.  1  8,  page  96,  Mass.  Hist.  Soc. 
*  N.  E.  Hist.  Gen.  Register,  \'ol.  22,  page  17. 


THE   ARMS  OF   RICHARD  SCOTT  89 

This  Quaker  theory  does  not  quite  satisfactorily  explain, 
however,  why  John"*  Scott  used  a  plain  seal,  and  his  wife 
used  his  armorial  seal,  for  the  reason  that  her  family,  the 
Wanton's,  besides  furnishing  four  colonial  governors,  is 
known  as  the  family  of  "Fighting  Quakers."  [A^.  E.  Hist. 
Gen.  Register^  Vol.  60,  p.  174.] 

Howard  M.  Chapin  in  Colonial  Heraldry ^  page  40, 
cites  a  somewhat  similar  case,  where  in  1 660  Richard  Morris 
of  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  sealed  a  deed  with  some  convenient 
plain  object,  and  his  wife  Mary  sealed  the  deed  with  an 
armorial  seal,  a  bend  cottised  three  crescents.  These  arms 
are  not  listed  under  Morris  in  Burke.  The  witnesses  to  the 
deed  were  William  Dyre  (alias  Dyer )  and  William  Baul- 
stone,  but  the  arms  are  not  found  in  Burke  under  the  name 
of  Dyer  nor  Baulstone.  In  the  Gore  Roll^  No.  29,  how- 
ever, is  found  a  coat  of  the  same  charges  for  Gillis  Dyer, 
colonel  of  the  Governor's  Life  Guard  and  Sheriif  of  the 
County  of  Suffolk,  Massachusetts  Bay,  under  date  of  1713. 

Mr.  William  Allan  Dyer  has  recently  discovered  a 
third  use  of  these  arms  in  America.  "In  the  Massachusetts 
Archives  [Vol.  129,  p.  163]  there  is  a  power  of  attorney 
executed  on  20  August  1688,  by  Mary  Dyer  of  Sussex  in 
Pennsylvania,  widow  of  William  Dyer,  in  favor  of  her 
son  William  Dyer.  Mary  Dyer  signed  and  sealed  this 
document  in  the  presence  of  John  Redwood  and  Samuel 
Atkins  and  used  an  armorial  seal  a  bend  cottised  three 
crescents y  impaling  a  jess  dance tty  between  three  mullets. 
It  is  indeed  significant  that  another  use  of  these  arms  by  a 
member  of  the  Dyer  family  has  been  discovered.  The 
identity  of  William  Dyer  of  Sussex  has  been  established, 
as  Major  William  Dyer,  son  of  William  Dyer,  one  of  the 
founders  of  Newport."  \R.  I.  H.  S.  Collections^  Vol,  26, 
p.  76.] 

The  following  is  an  abstract  of  the  deed: 

JOHN  SCOTT  of  Newport  in  the  Colony  of  Rhode 
Island  and  Providence  Plantations,  in  New  England,  for 
£600  current  money  deeded  to  Charles  Dyere  of  Dart- 


PHOTOSTATIC    ENLARGEMENT   OF   SCOTT   SEALS   ON   THE    DEED 

OF   JOHN    SCOTT   AND   WIFE    ELIZABETH,    OF   NEWPORT,   R.    I., 

TO     CHARLES    DYRE,     OF    DARTMOUTH,     MASSACHUSETTS, 

DATED    25    JULY    1712. 

From  the  Original  Deed  Ozoieii  f>\  Frederick  S.  Peck 
BeUon  Court,  Barrington,  R.  I. 


THE   ARMS  OF   RICHARD   SCOTT  91 

mouth,  in  the  Countv  of  Bristol  &  Province  of  Massachu- 
setts,  Blacksmith,  a  Mansion  house  and  1 13  acres  of  land 
in  Providence,  about  three  miles  from  the  salt  water  harbor 
in  Providence,  being  the  northern  part  of  Antashutuck 
Minor  Neck  upon  Neosaconkonit  River,  on  the  western, 
southern,  and  south  eastern  side  of  the  river  j  also,  two 
lots  containing  about  12  acres;  a  meadow  containing  3  or 
4  acres;  a  piece  of  Salt  meadow  containing  7  or  8  acres, 
and  a  piece  of  upland,"  etc.  Together  with  all  and  singular 
the  Rights,  Liberties,  Privileges,  including  Improvements, 
Outhouses,  Gardens,  Orchards,  Fences,  Ways,  Wastes, 
Water  Easments  and  Appurtenances  to  said  house,  lands, 
etc. 

IN  WITNESS  whereof  the  sd  John  Scott  hath  here- 
unto Sett  his  hand  &  Seal  this  five  &  Twentieth  Day  of 
July  in  the  Eleventh  year  of  or  Soveraign  Lady  Ann  by 
the  Grace  of  God  of  Great  Britain  &  Ireland  Queen,  etc. 
Annog  Domi  1712 

Sealed  &  Delivered  in  presence  of 

Joseph  Fay  John  Scott  (Seal) 

Tho.  Makin  Elizabeth  Scott  (Seal) 

[Prov.  Deeds,  Book  2,  pp.  347-8] 

To  guard  against  the  loss  of  this  deed,  or  damage  to 
the  seal,  with  the  consequent  loss  of  the  evidence,  steps 
have  been  taken  to  make  a  proper  record.'' 

^  These  smaller  parcels  of  land  were  deeded  bv  Dver  30  April  1713 
to  Nathaniel  Browne,  of  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  described  as  formerly  belonging 
to  Richard  Scott.  [Proz\  Deeds,  Book  2,  pages  300-2.] 

''At  a  meeting  of  the  Heraldry  Committee  of  the  Nezv  Efi gland  Historic 
Genealogical  Society  held  29  April  1939,  the  seal  on  this  original  Scott 
deed  was  carefully  examined  uncier  a  magnifying  glass  bv  all  the  members 
of  the  Committee,  Robert  Dixon  Weston,  Harold  Bowditch,  M.D., 
George  Andrews  Moriarty,  F.S.A.,  Rev.  Arthur  Adams,  F.S.A.,  Richard 
LeBaron  Bowen ;  and  by  Anthony  R.  Wagner,  F.S.A.,  Portcullis  Pursui- 
vant, of  the  College  of  Arms,  London,  England,  and  previously  by 
Howard  Millar  Chapin,  and  the  arms  on  the  seal  were  found  to  be 
three  Catherine  zcheels,  a  border  engrailed,  being  the  same  heraldic 
charges  as  on  the  arms  of  the  familv  of  Scott,  of  Scott's  Hall,  co.  Kent, 
England,  and  this  fact  was  recorded  in  the  records  of  the  Heraldry 
Committee. 


92  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

Antiques  for  February  1933  contained  an  illustration  of 
a  silver  mug  owned  by  Rev.  Malbone  H.  Brickhead  of 
Wynnewood,  Pa.,  engraved  with  an  impaled  coat  of  arms, 
gold  two  bendlets  compony  gules  and  ermine  for  Malbone, 
impaling  Silver  on  a  jess  between  three  Catherine  wheels 
as  many  lambs  f  ass  ant  for  Scott.  Under  the  arms  are 
engraved  "Godfrey  Malbone,  1  742." 

The  Collections'  for  July  1933  under  Heraldic  NoteSy 
reproduced  the  picture  of  this  silver  mug,  and  said: 

"The  arms  of  Scott  as  engraved  on  the  silver  mug 
are  the  same  as  those  of  Thomas  Scott  of  Great  Barr, 
in  Staffordshire,  as  illustrated  on  page  299  of  the 
1724  edition  (also  in  edition  of  1679)  of  Guillim's 
Display  of  Heraldry.  In  the  text  these  arms  are 
given  as  argent  on  a  jess  gules,  cottised  a%ure,  three 
lambs  of  the  first,  between  as  many  Katherine- 
wheels  sable,  but  in  the  illustration  the  cottises  are 
omitted.  Dr.  Bowditch  suggests  that  the  engraver 
may  have  merely  turned  to  Guillim  for  a  Scott  coat, 
found  that  of  Scott  of  Great  Barr,  Staffordshire,  and 
then,  overlooking  the  cottises  in  the  description, 
copied  Guillim's  wood  cut.  He  may  have  shaded  the 
fees  for  artistic  effect." 

The  discovery  of  this  Godfrey  Malbone  mug  of  1742 
with  the  impaled  Scott  arms  of  a  descendant  of  Richard^ 
Scott  in  the  fourth  generation,  the  earliest  record,  and  at 
that  time  the  only  known  record  of  this  family  having 
used  arms  in  America,  was,  to  say  the  least,  a  shock  to  the 
genealogists  who  had  been  working  on  this  Scott  pedigree, 
for  instead  of  being  the  arms  of  the  family  of  Kent,  they 
were  the  arms  of  another  family  in  England  by  the  same 
name,  settled  some  two  hundred  miles  north  west  in 
Staffordshire. 

The  use  of  these  Staffordshire  arms  on  this  Malbone 


'  R.  I.  Hist.  Sac.  CrAlectio/is,  Col.  26,  pages  98-100. 


THE   ARMS  OF   RICHARD   SCOTT  93 

mug  made  no  sense,  for  as  far  as  known,  none  of  Richard^ 
Scott's  family  came  from  as  far  north  in  England  as 
Staffordshire,  so  here  was  a  record  of  apparently  the  wrong 
arms  being  used,  and  the  explaining  away  of  this  fact  was 
just  one  more  problem  for  the  genealogist. 

Now  that  we  know  that  in  1712  John '  Scott  owned  a 
Scott  seal,"  thirty  years  before  his  son-in-law's  silver  mug 
was  engraved  in  1 742  with  an  entirely  different  Scott  coat 
of  arms,  we  realize  that  Dr.  Bowditch  was  right  when  he 
said  in  1933  that  the  engraver  didn't  know  the  Scott  coat 
and  simply  copied  it  out  of  Guillim.  At  any  rate,  the 
engraver  evidently  did  not  read  the  printed  blazon,  for 
the  coat  is  incorrectly  drawn  in  Guillim  and  incorrectly 
engraved  on  the  cup.  See  illustration.  Incidentally,  it  is 
the  only  Scott  coat  of  arms  in  the  book,  so  the  engraver 
had  to  use  this  one  or  nothing.  Also,  which  is  interesting, 
Guillim  lists  no  Malbone  arms. 

The  date  of  1  742  on  this  silver  mug  seems  to  be  sig- 
nificant, for  on  29  April  1  742  Godfrey  Malbone,  of  New- 
port, merchant,  purchased  a  farm  of  366  acres  with  build- 
ings, improvements,  etc.,  at  Jamestown,  R.  I.,  from  Col. 
Francis  Brinley,"  of  Newport,  for  £10,248. 

Malbone  seems  to  have  been  setting  up  a  pretentious 
establishment  in  Jamestown,  and  it  might  be  that  his 
merchant  friends  in  Newport  took  this  occasion  to  present 
him  with  an  engraved  heraldic  mug.  In  that  case,  it  might 
well  have  been  kept  a  secret  from  both  Malbone  and  his 
wife,  which  might  account  for  the  use  of  the  wrong  Scott 
arms. 

Summary. 

The  possession  of  this  Scott  seal  in  1712  by  the  wife 
of  John"  Scott,  the  grandson  of  Richard',  the  emigrant, 
proves  conclusively  that  the  early  members  of  this  family 

^   Photostat  of  the  seals  and  signatures  in  R.  I.  H.  S.  M.  XI,  11+. 
®  Austin,  Gen.  Diet,  of  R.  /.,  page  25  7. 


94 


RHODE   ISLAND    HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 


Chap.  VI. 


A  Display  0. 


*'  He  beareth  Argent^ 
**  on  a  Fefs  Gules ^  cotti- 
*'  fed  Azure,  three  Lambs 
"  of  the  F/r//,  between  as 
"  many  Kj^thertne-v^'\\tt\i 
"  Sdle^  by  the  Name  of 
"  Scott ;  and  is  born  by 
*'  ThomM  Scott  of  Great- 
"  Barr  in  Staffordjhire  ^ 
"  Gent. 


PAGE  299,  guillim's  display  of  heraldry. 


3 


in  America  were  using  the  arms  of  the  Kentish  family  of 
Scott,  of  Scott's  Hall.  This  Rhode  Island  seal  is  apparently 
earlier  than  the  date  of  the  deed  on  which  it  was  used, 
because  it  shows  wear,  and  so  it  may  have  been  brought 
over  from  England,  Even  if  it  were  cut  in  America,  it 
would  have  been  necessary  for  the  family  to  have  furnished 
the  seal  cutter  with  the  blazon  of  the  arms,  for  the  reason 
that  these  particular  arms  do  not  appear  in  any  of  the  six 
editions  of  Guillim  from  1610  to  1724,  nor  is  the  present 
writer  able  to  find  the  coat  in  any  of  the  other  less  common 
early  heraldic  books."  Guillim's  Display  of  Heraldry  was 

^"  An  early  "Scotte  (Kent,  added)"  coat,  3  Catherine  wheels,  a  border 
engrailed,  called  'Hate  Tudor,'''  is  shown  on  p.  200,  Harl.  MS.  No.  6163, 
in  Tzco  Tudor  Books  of  Arfns,  ed.  by  Joseph  Foster,  De  Walden  Library, 
1904.  This  coat  is  perhaps  a  century  earlier  than  the  date  Foster  assigns  to 
it,  for  Anthony  R.  Wagner,  F.S.A.,  of  the  College  of  Arms,  London, 
England,  identifies  this  MS.  in  his  new  book.  Historic  Heraldry  of 
Britain,  p.  30,  as:  "Peter  Le  Neve's  Book  (British  Museum  MS.  Harl. 
6163).  Painted  Book  c.  1490  and  later,  of  some  2000  coats,  incorporating 
a  good  deal  of  earlier  1  5th  century  matter." 


THE   ARMS  OF   RICHARD   SCOTT  95 

the  principal  heraldic  book  used  in  America  in  the  late 
seventeenth  and  early  eighteenth  centuries, 

Glemsjordy  where  Richard^  Scott's  father  Edward  was 
located,  is  a  parish  in  the  hundred  of  Babergh  in  the  county 
of  Suffolk,  in  the  archdeaconry  of  Sudbury,  and  diocese 
of  Norwich,  and  is  located  in  the  southwestern  corner  of 
Suffolk,  within  about  a  mile  of  the  northern  boundary  of 
the  county  of  Essex. 

Smeeth,  where  the  Scotts  of  Scott's  Hall  were  located, 
is  a  parish  in  the  franchise  and  barony  of  Bircholt,  lathe  of 
Shepway,  county  of  Kent,  in  the  "peculiar  jurisdiction  and 
patronage  of  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,"  and  is  situated 
in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county,  about  seven  miles 
from  the  English  Channel,  and  about  thirty-five  miles 
southeast  of  the  southern  boundary  line  of  the  county 
of  Essex. 

Glemsford,  Suffolk,  is  about  eighty  miles  north  of 
Smeethy  Kent.  It  is  claimed  that  Richard'  Scott's  great 
grandfather,  Edward  Scott,  moved  from  Kent  and  settled 
in  Suffolk  about  1575. 

On  the  following  page  is  a  pedigree  chart  of  the  Richard 
Scott  Family  which  shows  clearly  where  it  is  necessary  to 
do  additional  English  research.  This  pedigree  should  cer- 
tainly be  traceable,  for  the  parish  registers  of  Glemsford, 
CO,  Suffolk,  are  extant  and  commence  in  1550,  and  the 
proved  part  of  the  American  end  of  the  pedigree  extends 
back  into  England  to  a  time  when  people  of  this  social  and 
economic  class  left  wills.  Furthermore,  it  is  known  that  there 
were  Scotts  settled  early  in  Suffolk  for  a  John  Skott  was 
assessed  for  the  Subsidy  at  Glemsford  in  1  524, 


96 


RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


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First  four  generations  of  this  pedigree  from  MSS. 
who  is  writing  a  Soott  Genealogj'. 

*Mentioned    in    will    of    George    Scott,    of    London 


[AT.  E.  Hist.  Gen.  Reg.,  Vol.  51. 


254.] 


Notes  of  Edward  N.   Duiilap. 
Merchant.     [Campbell.    51.] 
J^Iuseiim    MSS. 


tFrederick's    Descendants.      [Daw's    Suffolk    Collections.    British 
Add.   19148,  P.  25640.].    Here  printed  for  first  time. 

tCf.  The  Visitations  of  Kent  in  1530-1,  p.  17. 

§Cf.  The  Visitations  of  Kent  in  1574,  p.  30;  also.  The  J'isitations  of  Kent  in  166S 
1668,  p.  145. 


f 


Rhode    Island 

Historical     Society 

Collections 


Vol.  XXXII 


OCTOBER,   1939 


No.  4 


hoof,  and  the  other  has  exactly  the  shape  and  size  bl'  ar''  ■  ^.^ 

human  foot,   even  the  mark  of  a  great  toe  being  pointed       'i  f'         ^\ 
out  by  the  lad  who  explained  to  me  the  story.     The  steps  '''''     '' 

are  three  paces  apart,  and  appear  thus —  ■■^/>/ 


The  "  Devil's  foot  marks,"  near  Wickford. 

FROM    THE    REPORT    ON    THE    GEOLOGICAL    AND    AGRICULTURAL    SURVEY    OF 
THE    STATE    OF    RHODE    ISLAND    BY    CHARLES    T.    JACKSON,     1840,    PAGE    87. 

See  page  116  of  this  issue  of  the  Collections. 


Issued  Quarterly 


68  Waterman  Street,  Providence,  Rhode  Island 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


The  "Devil's  foot  marks"  .....    Cover 


Pawtuxet  and  the  Rhodes  Family 

by  Horace  G.  Belcher  .  .  .  .  97 


New  Interpretations  of  the  Records  of  the 
Island  of  Rhode  Island 
by  Edward  H.  West 107 


New  Publications  of  Rhode  Island  Interest  .        116 


Notes        .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .116 


A  Journal  of  my  Visits  to  Rhode  Island 
April  17,  1776. 
by  W.  Rogers     .  .  .  .  .  .117 


RHODE       «^E       ISLAND 
HISTORICAL     ^^my  SOCIETY 

COLLECTIONS 
Vol.  XXXII  OCTOBER,  1939  No.  4 

Harry  Parsons  Cross,  President  Robert  T.  Downs,  Treasurer 

William  Davis  Miller,  Secretary  Howard  M.  Chapin,  Librarian 


The  Society  assumes  no  responsibility  for  the  statements  or  the  opinions 
of  contributors. 


Pawtuxct  and  the   Rhodes  Family 

By  Horace  G.  Belcher 

To  the  casual  passer-by  on  busy  Narragansett  Boulevard 
or  on  Main  street  where  the  Greenwich  post  road  begins 
on  the  Warwick  side  of  Pawtuxet  it  was  nothing  more  than 
wreckers  tearing  down  an  old  house  last  March.  But  to 
the  few  that  know  Old  Pawtuxet  it  was  the  destruction  of 
a  symbol  of  Pawtuxet's  past  glory.  For  some  of  the  most 
vital  phases  of  Pawtuxet's  history  had  their  origin  in  that 
house. 

From  it  came  a  family  group  of  manufacturers  and  mer- 
chants who  controlled  the  prosperity  and  swayed  the  destiny 
of  Pawtuxet  for  more  than  a  half  century,  changing  it  from 
a  shipping  port  to  a  mill  village,  replacing  its  declining 
West  Indies  trade  with  the  clutter  of  looms  at  Pawtuxet 
Falls,  at  Bellefonte,  Natick,  Albion,  Wickford  and  else- 
where, building  homes  for  themselves  still  distinguished 
for  architectural  beauty  and  so  stamping  their  family  indi- 
viduality on  the  old  village  that  it  might  well  have  been 
called  "Rhodesville"  instead  of  by  the  Indian  name  for 
"Little  Falls"  by  which  it  has  been  known  since  its  history 
began,  just  over  three  centuries  ago. 


98  RHODE   ISLAND    HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

The  return  of  the  old  place  to  the  sleepy  country  village 
it  remained  until  Edgewood  began  to  grow  up  to  it  on  the 
Cranston  side  and  Lakewood  on  the  Warwick,  followed  the 
ending  of  its  industrial  era  when  the  Rhodes  family  ceased 
operation  of  the  mills  and  when  its  members  who  had  led 
this  activity  passed  on  or  removed  from  Pawtuxet. 

The  house,  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  group  of  Rhodes 
houses  built  in  or  near  Pawtuxet  village,  stood  at  the  bottom 
of  Main  street  hill,  first  in  the  long  line  of  dwellings  ex- 
tending along  the  west  side  of  the  old  post  road  to  Connec- 
ticut and  New  York.  At  the  time  of  the  Revolution  it  was 
the  home  of  Captain  Robert  Rhodes,  merchant  and  ship 
owner.  Here  were  born  Gen.  Christopher  and  Col.  William 
Rhodes  who  founded  the  manufacturing  dynasty  that 
brought  to  Pawtuxet  a  century  or  more  ago,  wealth  and 
prosperity  to  replace  the  shipping  trade  for  which  it  had 
been  noted  since  long  before  the  Revolutionary  War. 

From  this  house  spread  a  wide  influence.  In  the  mansion 
next  door,  built  by  one  of  the  sons  born  in  the  old  house, 
the  Providence  Journal's  most  distinguished  editor  and 
Rhode  Island's  best  known  Secretary  of  State  married  into 
the  family.  The  next  house,  up  the  hill,  has  a  plate  stating 
that  the  north  end  was  built  by  James  Rhodes  in  1 734,  the 
south  end  added  in  1 774  by  Malachi  Rhodes.  It  is  said  that 
at  one  time  every  house  on  this  side  of  the  old  post  road 
from  Pawtuxet  bridge  to  the  Golden  Ball  Inn,  now  the  Cole 
farmhouse  at  the  edge  of  Lakewood,  was  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  a  Rhodes. 

The  old  house  was  a  fine  looking  dwelling  in  its  day, 
solid  and  substantial,  expressing  the  plain,  old-fashioned 
rugged  individuality  of  Colonial  times.  Up  to  the  opening 
of  the  century  its  front  door  had  a  remarkably  fine  brass 
knocker  and  the  house  expressed  dignity  and  worth.  In 
later  years  it  grew  seedy  and  neglected,  yet  it  was  in  sur- 
prisingly good  condition  at  the  end. 

Its  age  was  uncertain.  During  the  Rhode  Island  Tercen- 
tenary a  tablet  was  placed  on  it  reading  "Built  by  James 


PAWTUXKT RHODKS   FAMILY  99 

Rhodes,  1674."  This  was  removed  when  the  historical 
committee  responsible  was  reminded  that  records  show 
every  house  in  the  Pawtuxet  settlement  was  burned  by  Nar- 
ragansett  Indians  in  January,  1676,  during  King  Philip's 
War.  And  James  Rhodes,  son  of  Malachi  and  father  of 
Robert,  was  born  in  1711. 

The  land  on  which  it  stood  was  a  part  of  that  given  by 
William  Arnold,  Pawtuxet's  first  settler,  to  his  youngest 
daughter,  Joanna,  on  her  wedding  day,  March  6,  1 646, 
when  she  married  Zachariah  Rhodes,  who  had  been  living 
at  Rehoboth,  where  his  name  appears  with  an  estate  of  50 
pounds  in  the  tax  list  of  58  inhabitants  that  year. 

The  land  has  remained  in  possession  of  the  Rhodes 
family  or  its  connections  ever  since,  finally  coming  back  to 
an  Arnold.  The  original  deed  was  made  at  Boston,  for  the 
Pawtuxet  settlers  led  by  Arnold,  had  then  placed  them- 
selves under  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony. 

The  Rhodes  lands  extended  to  Spring  Green  in  one 
direction,  to  Norwood  and  beyond  in  another,  as  well  as  on 
the  Cranston  side  of  the  Pawtuxet  River.  The  family  was 
a  prolific  one  and  as  the  eldest  sons  in  earlier  generations 
were  named  Malachi  and  in  later  generations  James,  it  is 
not  easy  to  follow.  At  one  time,  to  judge  from  Revolution- 
ary muster  rolls,  Pawtuxet  must  have  been  almost  filled 
with  Rhodes,  leaving  scant  room  for  the  Aborns — pro- 
nounced Eb-on  in  Pawtuxet  until  in  recent  years — the 
Sheldons,  Remingtons,  Smiths. 

Zachariah  Rhodes  was  drowned  "off  Pawtuxet  shoare"  in 
1665.  In  his  will  he  left  to  his  sons  Zachariah,  Malachi 
and  John  when  they  should  reach  the  age  of  21  years,  "the 
lands  south  of  the  Pawtuxet  river."  Malachi  died  in  1682, 
leaving  to  his  son  Malachi  "all  housing  and  lands  and  half 
of  his  movables  and  chattels."  This  Malachi  died  August 
17,  1714,  leaving  to  his  son  James  among  other  things, 
"Two  acres  adjoining  on  Pawtuxet  river  against  the  falls," 
undoubtedly  including  the  site  of  the  old  house. 

James  was  father  of  Robert,  who  was  living  in  the  house 


100  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

at  the  time  of  the  Revolution.  The  date  of  its  building  must 
have  been  after  1711,  for  a  map  of  the  "Proprietor's  lots 
south  of  the  river  at  Pawtuxet,"  drawn  by  William  Hopkins 
and  dated  June  28  of  that  year  shows  no  house  on  the  west 
side  of  the  old  post  road,  although  "John  Rhodes  house" 
is  written  on  a  lot  opposite  this  location.  The  John  Rhodes 
lot  was  intersected  by  Peck  lane,  leading  to  the  town  wharf, 
the  house  being  on  the  section  nearest  Pawtuxet  bridge. 

When  Narragansett  Boulevard  was  laid  out  through 
Pawtuxet,  a  small  building  of  evident  great  age,  used  in  its 
later  years  as  a  bakery,  was  torn  down  to  clear  the  tip  of 
the  V  where  Main  street  and  the  boulevard  joined  near 
Pawtuxet  bridge.  This  building  may  have  been  the  old 
John  Rhodes  house. 

James  Rhodes  deeded  September  6,  1770,  to  his  son 
Robert,  "a  certain  house  and  lot  of  land  situate  being  in 
Pawtuxet  in  Warwick,  about  where  he  now  dwells,"  which 
proved  the  house  was  built  before  that  year.  The  70-foot 
lot  was  bounded  on  three  sides  by  land  of  James  Rhodes, 
the  fourth  boundary  being  the  post  road.  Robert  Rhodes 
deeded  it  to  his  son  Christopher,  September  19,  1820,  de- 
scribing it  as  "the  mansion  house  and  estate  whereon  I  now 
live."  The  deed  was  filed  in  1821,  after  Robert's  death. 
The  property  is  now  owned  by  the  estate  of  George  C. 
Arnold. 

The  wreckers  who  tore  down  the  old  house  found  only 
four  large  timbers  showing  signs  of  having  been  hewed  out 
with  an  adze,  these  all  being  in  the  roof.  The  others  had 
come  from  a  saw  mill  and  show  very  close  joining.  The 
Malachi  Rhodes  who  died  in  1714  owned  one-half  of  a  saw 
mill.  He  was  a  Deputy  in  the  General  Assembly  in  1707, 
'08  and  1709,  and  in  1713  was  appointed  by  the  Assembly 
on  the  committee  for  making  the  public  road  from  the 
Pawtucket  River  to  the  Pawcatuck  River  at  Westerly, 
straight  and  passable.  He  saw  to  it  that  this  improvement 
was  applied  to  the  section  crossing  the  Pawtuxet  at  Paw- 


PAWTUXET RHODES    FAMILY  101 

tuxet  bridge  and  running  up  Pawtuxet  hill,  past  this  old 
house. 

The  house  had  a  direct  view  down  Peck  lane,  laid  out  in 
1  734  as  a  town  road,  but  existing  long  before  this  as  an 
approach  to  the  water  front,  where  the  town  laid  out  two 
slips  20  feet  wide  at  which  Capt.  Rhodes  must  often  have 
seen  his  coasting  and  West  Indies  trade  vessels  moored. 
The  lane  still  maintains  its  two-century  record  of  never 
having  been  paved. 

Robert  Rhodes,  termed  Esquire  in  the  old  records  to 
show  his  social  station  as  a  gentleman  and  a  man  of  sub- 
stance, got  his  title  of  Captain  from  service  in  the  Pawtuxet 
Rangers,  a  military  company  incorporated  in  1774  and 
serving  in  the  fort  on  Pawtuxet  Neck  and  elsewhere  during 
the  Revolutionary  War.  The  company  was  in  Gen.  Sulli- 
van's army  at  the  battle  of  Rhode  Island,  August  29,  1 779 
and  Captain  Rhodes  was  with  it. 

He  had  ownership  in  vessels  sailing  from  Pawtuxet  be- 
fore and  after  the  Revolution,  for  Pawtuxet  was  a  port  of 
entry  from  1790  when  the  Providence  Custom  House  was 
established  with  a  resident  Surveyor  at  Pawtuxet,  until 
1912  and  had  a  large  trade  with  the  West  Indies  dating 
back  to  the  early  part  of  the  Eighteenth  Century.  It  fitted 
out  privateers  during  the  Revolution  and  as  late  as  1  832 
some  30  schooners  and  brigs  were  registered  as  belonging- 
there. 

In  1790,  when  Zachariah  Rhodes  was  Surveyor  at  the 
port,  Capt.  Rhodes  was  one  of  the  owners  of  the  sloop  Sally, 
46  feet  4  inches,  31  tons,  built  at  Warren,  1785;  and  the 
Betsey,  86  tons,  built  at  Harrington  in  1 788,  sharing  owner- 
ship in  both  with  James  Rhodes,  "of  Warwick,  merchant." 
In  1 792  he  registered  the  Nancy,  23  tons,  built  at  Rehoboth, 
1790,  with  James  Rhodes,  Jr.  "of  Warwick,  Esq."  as  co- 
owner.  And  he  had  other  vessels  as  well.  In  the  floor  of 
the  house  was  found  a  board  six  feet  long  and  about  eight 
inches  wide,  in  which  was  cut  in  gilded  letters,  the  name 
"Washington,"  apparently  a  ship's  name  board. 


102  RHODE   ISLAND    HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

His  son,  Christopher,  born  August  16,  1776,  was  for 
five  or  six  years  before  coming  of  age,  on  one  or  another 
of  his  father's  vessels  in  the  coasting  and  West  Indies  trade 
in  which  so  many  Pawtuxet  vessels  were  then  engaged  that 
most  Pawtuxet  boys  went  to  sea  as  a  matter  of  course. 
Christopher  was  later  in  business  with  his  father,  their 
general  store  being  on  the  ground  floor  of  the  old  home- 
stead just  torn  down. 

Christopher  and  his  brothers,  William  and  James,  all 
were  born  in  the  old  house  and  all  became  leaders  in  Rhode 
Island  manufacturing  in  the  period  when  this  State  turned 
from  shipping  to  looms.  Christopher  and  William,  as 
C.  &  W.  Rhodes  operated  mills  at  Pawtuxet  Falls,  where 
the  water  privilege  was  first  utilized  by  Zachary  Rhodes, 
son-in-law ;  Stephen  Arnold,  son  and  Joseph  Carpenter, 
son-in-law  of  old  William  Arnold,  their  grist  mill  being  run 
for  nearly  two  centuries. 

C.  &  W.  Rhodes  built  at  Bellefonte,  where  they  suc- 
ceeded so  well  that  they  extended  their  business  to  Natick, 
where  they  owned  about  half  the  village  for  45  years.  From 
1820  to  1823  they  leased  the  Crompton  mills,  now  the 
Crompton  Company  and  later  they  had  mills  at  Wickford 
and  at  Albion. 

At  Natick,  when  the  first  Natick  mill  was  built,  they  were 
members  of  the  company  building  it.  In  July,  1815,  the 
first  Natick  Company  was  succeeded  by  three,  one  of  theni 
being  the  Rhodes-Natick  Company.  They  retained  one 
mill  with  30  looms  for  making  cotton  cloth,  and  also  had  a 
grist  mill  and  several  tenement  houses  for  the  mill  help. 
They  sold  this  company  in  1852  to  A.  &  W.  Sprague. 

In  the  Bellefonte  mill  they  are  said  to  have  made  the 
first  of  the  red  tablecloths  for  years  so  popular  on  the 
kitchen  tables  of  American  working  men  and  farmers. 
These  were  dyed  a  Turkey  red,  which  gave  the  mill  its 
local  name  of  "Turkey  red"  still  heard,  although  the  niill 
was  long  since  taken  over  for  other  uses. 

Incidental  to  their  manufacturing  operations  they  estab- 


PAWTUXfclT- RHODES    FAMILY  103 

lished  the  Pawtuxet  Bank  in  October,  1814,  erecting  for  its 
home  the  brick  buildmg  still  standing  at  Main  and  Bank 
streets,  a  stone's  throw  from  the  Rhodes  houses.  Gen. 
Christopher  Rhodes  was  its  president  from  184-7  until  his 
death  in  1861.  The  bank  removed  to  Providence  when 
the  Rhodes  firm  extended  its  interests  outside  Pawtuxet  and 
was  located  on  lower  Westminster  street  from  1  845  until 
is  closed  in  1  872.    It  was  finally  wound  up  in  1  882. 

The  old  bank  vault,  closed  with  a  door  of  thick  iron 
plates  and  locked  with  a  massive  key  about  nine  inches  long, 
is  still  in  the  old  bank  building. 

The  bank  building,  the  long  house  and  the  tenement 
house  beside  it  on  Cole  street,  both  built  for  mill  tenements 
for  the  mill  on  the  Warwick  end  of  Pawtuxet  Falls  and  the 
Rhodes  residences  are  all  that  remains  as  reminders  of 
Pawtuxet's  prosperity  as  a  mill  village.  The  Warwick  mill 
burned  in  1  859. 

James  Rhodes  headed  the  hrm  of  James  Rhodes  and 
Sons,  who  at  one  tinie  operated  the  Pawtuxet  mill  and  who 
are  said  to  have  made  the  first  broadcloth  in  Rhode  Island. 
His  one  sister  was  the  mother  of  Robert  Rhodes  Stafford, 
who  as  Stafford  &  Co.  also  operated  the  mills  at  either  end 
of  Pawtuxet  Falls.  James  Rhodes  was  engaged  in  business 
at  Pawtuxet  for  60  years.  As  the  Honorable  James  Rhodes, 
he  was  a  Presidential  elector  in  1808,  the  sixth  Presidential 
election,  casting  his  vote  for  the  Federalist  candidates, 
Charles  C.  Pinkney  of  South  Carolina  for  President,  Rufus 
King  of  New  York  for  \lce  President.  He  was  several 
times  a  member  of  his  party's  conventions. 

Each  of  the  three  built  mansions  still  notable  for  beauty 
of  design  and  finish  and  each  of  the  three  exercised  a  wide 
influence  in  the  community  and  in  the  State.  P'or  genera- 
tion after  generation  they  controlled  the  destiny  of  Paw- 
tuxet and  made  the  Warwick  half  the  more  important  and 
the  business  centre. 

The  Christopher  Rhodes  house,  still  standing  beside  the 
old  homestead,  dwarfed  it  in  size  and  in  its  design  is  a  fine 


104  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

example  of  the  Federalist  period,  although  its  situation  on 
the  sidewalk  line  and  with  others  close  on  either  side,  de- 
tracts from  its  beauty.  A  drawing  of  its  front  door  is  shown 
in  Antoinette  F.  Downing's  "Early  Homes  of  Rhode 
Island,"  where  its  date  is  given  as  1  800. 

G^n.  Rhodes  married  Betsey  Allen  of  South  Kingstown. 
In  this  mansion  one  daughter,  Eliza  A.,  married  John  R. 
Bartlett,  Secretary  of  State  from  1855  to  1872,  the  longest 
term  of  any  secretary  under  the  constitution.  He  is  remem- 
bered for  his  10-volume  compilation  of  the  Rhode  Island 
Colonial  Records  from  the  founding  of  the  colony  to  1 792. 
He  was  the  father  of  Rear  Admiral  John  R.  Bartlett,  U.  S. 
Navy,  who  spent  much  of  his  boyhood  in  the  old  house  at 
Pawtuxet. 

Another  daughter,  Sarah  A.,  here  married  Henry  B. 
Anthony,  editor  of  the  Providence  Journal  from  1838  to 
1859  when  he  was  elected  United  States  Senator,  a  post 
he  held  for  a  quarter-century  until  his  death,  September  2, 
1884.  In  1849  and  again  in  1850  he  had  been  elected 
Governor  of  Rhode  Island,  declining  a  third  term. 

The  third  daughter  married  Joshua  Mauran  of  Provi- 
dence. 

Gen.  Christopher  Rhodes  got  his  title  from  election  as 
Brigadier  General  of  the  Fourth  Brigade  of  R.  I.  Militia 
in  May,  1809.  From  May,  1828  to  October,  1831,  he 
represented  Warwick  in  the  General  Assembly.  From  an 
early  period  he  interested  himself  in  the  substitution  of 
penitentiary  punishments  in  place  of  the  whipping  post  and 
pillory,  then  in  use  here. 

In  October,  1835  he  was  appointed  by  the  General  As- 
sembly one  of  the  building  committee  for  erection  of  the 
State  Prison  near  the  Cove  in  Providence  and  on  its  com- 
pletion was  appointed  one  of  its  inspectors,  an  office  he  held 
until  May,  1847.  The  State  Prison  stood  near  the  site  of 
the  Rhode  Island  College  of  Education,  at  the  foot  of 
Capitol  hill. 

Mrs.  Downing's  book  places  the  building  of  the  home  of 


PAWTUXET RHODES   FAMILY  105 

Col,  William  Rhodes,  the  junior  partner,  as  probably  about 
the  time  of  his  marriage  in  1803  to  Sarah  Arnold.  It  is  an 
imposingly  large  square-hipped  roofed  mansion  standing 
well  back  from  Main  street  nearly  opposite  Atlantic  Ave- 
nue, at  the  edge  of  the  village  and  is  now  owned  by  Joseph 
W.  Grimes.  The  notably  beautiful  front  and  back  parlors 
are  shown  in  illustrations  and  the  small  gable-roofed  porch 
is  described  in  Mrs.  Downing's  book.  The  Christopher 
Rhodes  house  also  contains  an  especially  fine  fireplace. 

The  grounds  of  the  William  Rhodes  house  are  extensive, 
running  to  the  Pawtuxet  river.  There  was  a  story  in  Paw- 
tuxet,  years  ago,  that  Col.  Rhodes  was  responsible  for  that 
isolation  which  for  so  many  years  after  the  mills  there 
ceased  to  run  steadily,  overcame  the  old  place.  It  was  said 
that  when  the  Providence  and  Stonington  Railroad  was 
laid  out,  the  engineers  first  planned  to  run  it  direct  to  the 
bay  shore  where  the  Harbor  Junction  line  later  reached  it. 

This  would  have  sent  the  line  through  the  present  Lake- 
wood  and  across  the  edge  of  Col.  Rhodes'  estate,  to  get  to 
Pawtuxet  and  thence  up  the  bay  shore.  The  story  goes  that 
the  opposition  of  Col.  Rhodes  was  influential  enough  to 
change  the  route  to  the  swing  through  Auburn  which  the 
railroad  has  ever  since  maintained,  the  result  being  to  send 
Pawtuxet  into  a  somnolence  from  which  it  did  not  emerge 
until  the  growth  of  Edgewood  reached  it,  many  years  later. 

Col.  Rhodes  was  a  director  in  the  Pawtuxet  Bank  and  was 
president  of  the  Weybosset  Bank  in  Providence  from  its 
founding  in  1831  until  his  death  in  1  854. 

Col.  William  Rhodes  commanded  the  Pawtuxet  Rangers 
but  had  retired  when  the  organization  was  incorporated  in 
1812  as  the  Pawtuxet  Artillery.  In  1814,  during  the  sec- 
ond war  with  England,  the  company  appointed  a  committee 
to  inform  him  of  "the  unanimous  desire  of  the  members  of 
the  Corps  that  he  should  resume  the  Command  of  the  same, 
Perticulerly  at  the  present  critical  Juncture." 

The  committee  reported  "that  Col.  William  Rhodes  had 
assented  to  become  a  member  of  the  Corpse  on  the  Condi- 


106  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

tion  of  not  being  fineable  for  absence  when  the  Company 
meet  for  exercising." 

Robert  Rhodes  Stafford  was  then  chosen  Major,  Sion  A. 
Rhodes,  Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Charles  Rhodes,  second 
sergeant,  Arnold  Rhodes,  third  sergeant,  Benjamin  Rhodes, 
fourth  sergeant. 

The  Pawtuxet  Artillery  manned  the  old  fort  on  Paw- 
tuxet  Neck  as  its  predecessor,  the  Pawtuxet  Rangers  had 
done  during  the  Revolution.  It  lasted  until  1847,  four 
years  after  the  State  built  for  it  a  stone  walled  armory  still 
standing  at  Bank  and  Remington  streets,  on  the  Warwick 
side  of  the  village.  Its  two  field  pieces,  which  local  tradi- 
tion says  came  from  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga, 
may  be  seen  today  in  niches  on  either  side  of  the  main  door- 
way to  the  armory  of  the  Kentish  Artillery  on  Main  street, 
Apponaug.  Henry  Butler,  Providence  merchant  living  at 
Pawtuxet  was  its  last  Colonel,  and  maintaining  the  family 
tradition  to  the  end — Christopher  Rhodes  its  last  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel. 

James  Rhodes,  the  oldest,  was  the  first  of  the  brothers  to 
build  a  mansion.  His  was  a  two-story  dwelling,  erected 
about  1790  and  standing  where  a  garage  is  now  located, 
next  to  the  home  of  Capt.  Robert  Rhodes,  close  to  the  mill 
and  near  Pawtuxet  Falls.  The  James  Rhodes  house  was 
burned  in  the  great  Pawtuxet  fire  of  May  2,  1 859,  when  28 
houses  were  ablaze  at  one  time.  The  mill  on  the  Warwick 
side  of  the  falls  also  burned,  the  fire  originating  there  and 
jumping  the  bridge.  The  mill  was  then  owned  by  John  T. 
Rhodes,  the  heirs  of  Peleg  A.  Rhodes  and  the  heirs  of  Capt. 
Pardon  Sheldon.  The  mill  on  the  Cranston  side  of  the  falls 
burned  on  the  night  of  January  25,  1875. 

The  Warwick  mill  was  built  for  a  woolen  mill,  and  at 
one  time  was  rented  by  James  Rhodes  for  the  manufacture 
of  cotton. 

James  Rhodes  built  on  his  farm  which  he  named  Choppe- 
quonsett,  a  short  distance  below  the  Ephraim  Bowen  house, 
between  Fair  street  and  Narragansett  Bay,  a  large  house  of 


RECORDS  OF  THE  ISLAND  OF  RHODK  ISLAND  107 

different  design  from  the  others,  but  no  less  notable.  The 
walls  of  its  reception  rooms  were  covered  with  hand  printed 
wall  paper  made  in  England,  which  today  would  be  con- 
sidered museum  pieces.  This  house  was  the  most  elaborate 
of  the  three  built  by  Christopher,  William  and  James. 

The  Rhodes  family  sold  this  estate  in  1844,  later  owners 
being  Gen.  Charles  S.  James,  inventor  of  the  James  rifled 
cannon  and  Nicholas  Brown,  whose  wife  planted  many  of 
the  trees  which  made  the  estate  so  beautiful.  Carrying  a 
bag  of  white  stones  she  walked  about  the  grounds,  throw- 
ing a  stone  over  her  shoulder  at  intervals.  Wherever  a 
stone  fell,  there  was  a  tree  of  the  evergreen  family  planted. 
The  house  was  later  bought  by  a  group  of  prominent  Prov- 
idence men  headed  by  Col.  William  Goddard,  for  a  country 
club,  but  burned  soon  afterward. 

The  Wyman  school  now  stands  near  its  site  and  the  south 
part  of  the  old  farm  is  the  present  Gaspee  Plateau.  The 
other  part  of  the  farm,  containing  St.  Peter's  Church,  is 
also  a  real  estate  development  already  well  built  up. 

Where  Pawtuxet  once  seemed  filled  with  Rhodes,  only 
one  family  related  to  this  group  of  manufacturers  and 
merchants  now  remains  on  the  Warwick  side  of  the  Paw- 
tuxet  river.  And  now  the  house  that  represented  their  start 
in  industry,  is  gone. 


New  Interpretations  of  the  Records  of  the 
Island  of  Rhode  Island 

By  Edward  H.  West 

When  the  Island  of  Aquidneck  was  settled  it  was  prob- 
ably done  without  any  definite  plans  for  future  expansion, 
and  the  flrst  settlement  was  made  close  to  the  first  good 
landing  place  they  found  and  possibly  where  a  clearing 
could  be  made  without  too  much  difiiculty.    The  site  of 


108  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

Newport  was  bound  to  be  settled  upon  because  of  the  splen- 
did harbor  there,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  any  of  the  settlers 
saw  that  harbor  until  long  after  they  had  built  their  homes 
near  the  cove  where  they  first  landed. 

Before  the  first  year  was  over  the  number  of  inhabitants 
had  increased  greatly  and,  although  Thomas  Bicknell  says 
there  are  no  records  of  any  denominational  differences,  it 
is  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  three  such  determined 
leaders  as  William  Coddington,  Samuel  Gorton  and  Anne 
Hutchinson,  each  with  altogether  different  ideas,  could 
get  along  together  in  such  a  small  place.  Each  of  them  had 
his  own  following,  and  a  combination  of  any  two  of  these 
factions  was  bound  to  overpower  the  other.  That  is  what 
actually  happened.  The  Gorton  and  Hutchinson  factions 
combined,  for  the  time  being,  were  enough  to  overthrow 
the  influence  of  William  Coddington,  a  condition  which 
resulted  in  the  founding  of  Newport  by  the  Coddington 
group. 

In  a  letter  to  John  Winthrop,  dated  9  Dec.  1639, 
William  Coddington  says  about  this  factional  difference 
and  his  overthrow,  "It  was  hatched  when  I  was  last  in 
the  Baye."  This  was  probably  about  the  9th  April  1639, 
as  it  was  on  that  date  that  William  Coddington  sold  to 
William  Tynge,  for  a  mere  thirteen  hundred  pounds,  all 
his  houses  and  lands  in  Boston  and  Mount  Wollaston.  Per- 
haps it  would  be  well  to  digress  from  the  Island  records 
and  to  refer  to  the  Boston  records  to  show  the  reader  who 
believes  that  all  transactions  of  those  early  days  were  as 
honest  and  simple  as  one  could  wish,  that  politics  and  in- 
trigue were  not  then  unknown  or  unpracticed. 

The  day  after  the  sale  of  the  Coddington  property,  it 
was  mortgaged  by  Tynge  to  Coddington,  but  this  was  not 
all,  as  an  agreement  was  made  whereby  William  Codding- 
ton was  to  have  a  right  to  cut,  reap  and  thresh  all  his  corn 
now  planted.  Also  to  have  liberty  to  plant  a  great  part  of 
this  land  "this  spring,"  as  well  as  cut,  reap  and  thresh  the 
corn,  with  chamber  room  to  put  it  in.  Also  cellar  room  for 


RECORDS  OF  THE  ISLAND  OF   RHODE   ISLAND  109 


milk,  house  room  for  servants,  and  house  room  forTHTHy 
head  of  cattle  until  the  end  of  the  next  whiter,  and  liberty 
to  "fetch  away"  all  his  cut  wood,  timber,  and  felled  trees. 
When  one  reads  the  dedication  of  John  Callender's  "Dis- 
course" it  is  plainly  seen  that  Callender  had  not  read  the 
"Note  Book  of  Thomas  Letchford,"  in  which  the  sale, 
mortgage  and  agreement  between  William  Coddington 
and  William  Tynge  is  recorded.  Callender  said  that 
Coddington  "Quitted  his  large  property  and  improvements 
at  Braintree  for  peace  sake,"  but  he  certainly  kept  control 
of  it  for  some  time  after  he  "quitted." 

From  the  records  of  the  Island  it  is  impossible  to  tell  just 
when  the  trouble  started,  but  at  a  meeting  of  the  freemen, 
the  6th  2nd  mo  1639,  when  a  place  for  the  impounding  of 
cattle  was  ordered,  it  was  ordered  to  be  "sett  up  in  some 
convenient  place  to  each  towne."  From  this  it  would  seem 
that  already  another  town  had  at  least  been  discussed.  The 
records  of  the  meeting  held  the  28th  2nd  mo  1639  are  very 
scant,  and  we  will  have  to  draw  on  conjecture  to  get  any 
idea  of  what  happened  at  this  meeting,  which  caused  the 
Coddington  faction  to  withdraw  and  to  found  a  new  town. 
Perhaps  William  Coddington  had  not  returned  from  "the 
Baye,"  and  was  absent  from  this  meeting,  thus  giving  the 
conspirators  an  opportunity  to  change  the  form  of  govern- 
ment. According  to  the  records,  the  only  business  brought 
up  concerned  a  debt  owed  Jeffrey  Champlin  and  William 
Cowlie  by  William  Aspinwall,  for  which  a  warrant  was 
granted  for  an  attachment  on  the  shallop  owned  by  Aspin- 
wall. This,  as  far  as  William  Dyre,  the  clerk,  was  con- 
cerned, was  all  the  business  transacted,  and  it  is  very  prob- 
able that  he  closed  the  book,  and  left  the  meeting.  It  is 
also  very  probable  that  the  friends  of  Coddington  held  a 
meeting  elsewhere,  for  their  argument  to  "Propogate  a 
Plantation  in  the  midst  of  the  Island  or  elsewhere"  was 
supposedly  written  on  that  same  day.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  that  those  remaining  at  the  meeting  held  an  election, 
and  elected  William  Hutchinson  the  Judge,  and  also  other 


110  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

officers.  But  as  they  had  no  book  to  record  their  minutes, 
this  formality  was  done  away  with  until  they  procured  a 
book.  The  hrst  records  in  this  new  book,  now  called  the 
"First  Book  of  Portsmouth,"  tell  one  of  the  most  peculiar 
stories  of  those  days,  and  they  will  be  taken  up  in  a  future 
article. 

One  of  the  strange  things  about  the  Agreement  made  by 
the  Coddington  faction,  is  the  fact  that  it  was  never  signed. 
To  be  sure  it  bears  the  names  of  nine  men,  but  they  were 
all  written  by  William  Dyre  at  a  much  later  date.  This 
peculiar  condition  of  the  records  has  not  been  especially 
mentioned  in  the  various  accounts  of  those  times,  (  with  the 
exception  of  Mr.  Howard  M.  Chapin,  in  his  "Docunientary 
History  of  Rhode  Island,"  and  he  did  not  tell  the  whole  of 
the  story )  but  seems  to  the  present  writer  to  be  very  signi- 
ficant. The  agreement  was  written  on  a  fresh  page,  as  if 
Dyre  was  bound  to  have  the  new  plantation  start  with  a 
clean  sheet,  but  a  close  study  will  show  that  he  must  have 
turned  over  several  leaves  of  the  book  before  starting  to 
WTite  the  records  of  Newport.  The  above  agreement  is  to 
be  found  on  page  1 1 ,  and  at  the  bottom  of  page  1 4  is  the 
following  note — "These  two  leaves  were  torne  out  by  ye 
G  Court  March  ye  16  1641  &  these  two  forgoing  containe 
the  same  orders  being  again  written."  Now  that  was  written 
on  these  two  leaves  that  the  Court  took  exception  to?  That 
is  a  question  never  to  be  answered^  nor  can  one  tell  how 
much  of  those  two  leaves  were  "againe  written,"  or  whether 
it  was  written  from  memory  or  from  the  two  leaves.  If 
from  memory  it  may  have  been  inaccurate.  One  other  fact 
about  the  names  under  the  agreement  is  that  Dyre  did  not 
use  the  same  kind  of  ink  as  was  used  in  the  body  of  the 
agreement,  but  used  the  ink  with  which  the  "two  leaves" 
are  written,  hence  the  names  were  probably  not  written 
until  the  two  leaves  were  "againe  written,"  over  two  years 
after  the  agreement  was  supposedly  made. 

As  so  much  has  been  said  about  page  1 1  in  the  Records 
of  the  Island  of  Rhode  Island,  I  think  that  it  would  be  well 


RECORDS  OF  THE  ISLAND  OF  RHODE  ISLAND  111 

to  bring  up  another  subject  which  is  based  on  the  material 
found  on  that  same  page.  The  name  Pocasset  is  supposed 
by  most  people  to  indicate  the  town  of  Portsmouth.  How 
much  proof  have  we  that  Portsmouth  was  ever  called 
Pocasset:  Certainly  none  from  any  of  the  letters  of  Cod- 
dington,  nor  from  the  Journal  of  John  Winthrop,  who 
always  referred  to  the  Island  as  "Aquiday."  The  name 
occurs  twice  on  page  1  1 ,  first  at  the  top  of  the  page  and  then 
in  the  stated  bounds  of  Newport  as  "Lands  lying  North- 
ward &  Eastward  from  sd  Towne  towards  Pocassett  for  the 
space  of  hve  miles."  Note  that  it  does  not  say  towards  the 
Tozvne  of  Pocassett.  The  name  occurs  in  the  records  of  a 
meeting  held  the  25th  9  mo  1639,  at  Newport,  when  it 
was  ordered  "that  those  Commissioners  formerly  appointed 
to  negotiate  the  Business  with  our  Brethren  of  Pocassett." 
This  was  three  months  after  the  freemen  of  the  upper  end 
of  the  Island  had  voted  to  call  that  town  Portsmouth.  There 
is  but  one  other  mention  of  the  sanie  in  the  records,  and  that 
is  in  the  division  of  the  land  of  William  Coddington  in 
1640,  where  Pocasset  highway  is  mentioned  as  a  bound. 
John  Callender,  in  his  Discourse,  does  not  go  so  far  as  to 
give  this  name  to  the  town,  but  supposes  it  to  mean  the 
upper  end  of  the  Island.  Most  writers  have  spoken  of 
Portsmouth  as  first  being  called  Pocasset,  seemingly  because 
some  one  else  said  it.  If  this  name  was  given  to  the  town, 
would  it  not  have  been  used  in  the  records  (it  is  always 
spoken  of  in  the  records  as  "this  town")  and  in  the  letters 
of  the  times:  And  if  it  was  so  named  would  not  the  freemen 
have  voted  to  change  the  name  to  Portsmouth,  and  not  just 
have  agreed  "to  call  this  town  Portsmouth": 

Perhaps  the  answer  to  this  lies  in  an  order  in  the  First 
Book  of  Portsmouth,  when,  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  4th 
of  the  12  mo  (  1640  )  in  one  of  the  torn  records  is  the  fol- 
lowing — 

"it  is  ordered  that  Mr  Porter 
to  lay  out  for  Mr  Samuel  Hutchinson 
in  the  south  east  neck  in  the  Comon  ( fence) 


112  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

unto  them  both  Ruphus  Barton  to  have 
Mr  Samuel  Hutchinson  to  lye  next 
of  Seven  Acres  in  PoeChasset  feil(d)" 

This  south  east  neck  in  the  Comon  fence  is  the  neck  which 
ends  with  Hummock  Point.  This  can  be  seen  from  a  deed 
dated  16  Dec.  1659  (First  Book,  309)  Richard  Bulgar  to 
Richard  Hart,  "3  acres  in  the  south  east  neck  of  the  place 
commonly  called  the  Comon  fence,  bounded  on  the  north 
by  land  of  Richard  Bulgar,  on  the  east  by  the  Pocasset  river, 
on  the  south  by  a  salt  pond  and  a  beach,  and  on  the  west  by 
the  Great  cove."  Peter  Talman  acquired  this  land  with 
other  lots,  and  Peter  Talman  Jun.  sold  it  to  Thomas 
Durfee,  8  June  1683  (R.  I.L.  E.,  1-169).  The  deed  reads 
as  follows — "in  the  place  commonly  called  the  Comon 
fence — 8  acres — bounded  northerly  by  the  land  of  Richard 
Bulgar,  easterly  by  the  Pocasset  river,  southwardly  by  the 
hummock  Comonly  called  Samuel  Hutchinsons  hummock, 
westwardly  by  the  great  cove." 

This  gives  us  without  any  doubt  the  location  of  Pocasset 
Field,  on  the  Pocasset  River  j  the  nearest  field  to  the  place 
called  Pocasset,  later  the  Pocasset  Purchase.  It  is  this  field 
which  I  believe  was  meant  when  reference  was  made  to 
Pocasset  in  the  early  records.  It  was  not  a  town,  but  a  defi- 
nite location  to  which  they  could  refer,  as  "in  the  direction 
of,"  or  "the  highway  to."  A  peculiarity  about  the  word 
Pocasset  at  the  top  of  page  1 1 ,  is  that  it  appears  to  have  been 
written  with  the  same  ink  as  the  later  entries,  and  not  the 
ink  used  in  the  agreement.  From  the  above  evidence  I 
believe  that  the  name  Pocasset  should  never  be  applied  to 
Portsmouth,  as  a  town,  and  if  used  at  all,  should  be  applied 
to  part  of  the  first,  or  temporary  settlement.  I  say  tempo- 
rary, although  it  was  probably  not  regarded  as  such  when 
it  was  started,  but  it  proved  so  when  the  permanent  town 
developed  a  little  farther  south,  and  the  former  settlement 
became  farm  land. 

Another  popular  misconception  concerns  "the  spring" 
which  is  mentioned  in  the  early  records,  the  general  idea 


PORTSMOUTH. 


A.W/LL'AM      CCO0IN6-T0N 

8,   JOI<N     C  LAHKC 

C.  >>AHOAL    HOLDEfM 


G.  A"C-  HOC  AS     £/t  S  TO  r/ 

H.EDW.   H  i/rcH  r/yson    SR 
[.  E-D^.  HvrcH i\ SOK    JR 
J.  John    -S/tV  ^<r/f  D 


I.   R'CftAtlt)     N*v,  h'lAS 

Z,  PHILLIP     SHERMAM 

3.  &A/V\UCL.    GORTOM 

X.   t^oRy-'^     f^ fELO 

Y.    WEs'r    FIELD 

Z.  CrUeA^T     FIE.LP 

EDWAHD     K,    W£ST. 


114  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

being  that  Founders'  Brook  ( as  it  is  called  today )  was  the 
spring  referred  to  in  all  the  records.  A  study  of  the  two 
sets  of  records  will  readily  show  that  this  is  not  so  and  that 
there  were  really  two  springs,  some  distance  apart.  The 
second  order  made  at  the  hrst  meeting  held  on  the  Island, 
13th  3rd  mo  1638,  says  "it  is  also  ordered  that  the  Towne 
shall  be  builded  at  the  spring,  and  Mr  William  Hutchin- 
son is  granted  and  to  have  six  lots  for  himself  &  his  children, 
Layd  out  at  the  great  Cove."  The  third  order  says  "also 
that  a  Generall  ffence  to  be  made  from  Baye  to  Baye,  Above 
the  head  of  the  spring,  with  five  rayles."  Had  the  spring 
(now  called  Founders'  Brook )  which  is  mentioned  so  many 
times  in  the  "First  Book"  in  regard  to  the  location  of  the 
town  lots,  been  meant,  the  Common  Fence  would  have  been 
located  near  the  present  Sprague  Street,  a  condition  which 
could  not  easily  be  fulfilled  according  to  the  description  of 
the  land  in  the  deed  of  Nicholas  Easton.  This  deed  de- 
scribes Easton's  lot  as  being  bounded  on  the  Great  Cove, 
and  lying  partly  within  and  partly  without  the  Common 
Fence.  This  spring  is  now  nearly  dried  up,  but  the  head 
of  it  is  still  seen  in  the  form  of  a  pool. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  when  the  settlement  was 
first  made  there  were  less  than  twenty-five  families,  and 
the  site  picked  out  for  the  town  was  amply  sufiicient.  But 
with  the  advent  of  many  more  people,  this  place  proved 
too  small  and  after  the  founding  of  Newport  the  town 
was  built  along  the  second  spring,  which  is  now  called 
Founders'  Brook.  Evidence  of  this  can  be  found  in  the 
"First  Book"  which  although  torn,  still  gives  an  idea  of 
the  number  of  house  lots  granted  along  this  brook  in  the 
first  few  months,  after  the  separation. 

When  the  first  settlers  sold  their  lands  the  deeds  were 
very  vague,  and  it  is  almost  impossible  to  locate  the  sites 
with  any  degree  of  accuracy.  The  sites  marked  on  the  ac- 
companying map  will  give  a  general  idea  of  where  the  lots 
of  some  of  the  first  settlers  were  located.  No  deeds  are 
recorded  of  the  sale  of  some  of  these  lots,  but  the  sites 


RECORDS  OF  THE  ISLAND  OF  RHODE  ISLAND  115 

may  be  discovered  in  recorded  deeds  when  the  unrecorded 
lots  are  mentioned  as  boundaries. 

Between  the  lots  of  Nicholas  Easton  and  Edward  Hutch- 
inson, Sr.  was  the  land  of  Nicholas  Brown,  which  he  sold 
to  John  Wickes,  he  selling  it  to  Samuel  Hutchinson,  3 
March  1640.  Whether  Samuel  Gorton  had  any  other  lot 
than  the  one  shown  on  the  map,  I  have  been  unable  to  dis- 
cover. Not  all  the  house  lots,  as  shown  on  the  plat  of  the 
town,  were  allotted  after  Newport  was  founded,  as  even 
before  the  separation  the  number  of  families  arriving  made 
necessary  the  use  of  some  of  this  land  for  house  lots. 

Although  this  article  takes  issue  with  many  of  the  popular 
beliefs  about  the  settlement  of  the  north  end  of  the  Island, 
and  seems  to  be  in  contradiction  of  many  of  the  historian's 
accounts,  it  is  based  solely  upon  a  study  of  the  actual  records. 
The  man  who  writes  a  history  of  a  state  can  not  possibly  take 
the  time  to  study  the  history  of  each  town  as  it  should  be 
studied,  and  he  is  bound  to  miss  some  of  the  important 
items,  especially  if  the  records  are  torn  and  the  ink  faded. 
The  town  of  Portsmouth  has  a  very  fine  set  of  records 
which,  if  used  in  connection  with  those  at  Providence,  gives 
a  description  of  the  building  and  the  progressive  growth  of 
the  town,  surpassing  the  accounts  of  most  of  the  early 
settlements  of  this  land.  But  they  must  be  read  and  studied, 
and  the  results  must  be  arrived  at  without  partiality,  pre- 
conception, or  inherent  sympathies. 


116  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 


New  Publications  of  Rhode  Island  Interest 

Merchants  and  Mansions  of  Bygone  Days  by  Elton 
Merritt  Manuel  is  a  pamphlet  of  32  pages  published  in 
1939  at  32  Clarke  Street,  Newport,  R.  I. 

Historical  Sketch  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Exeter,  Rhode 
Island  by  Mary  Kenyon  Huling  of  Lafayette,  R.  I.,  is  a 
pamphlet  of  27  pages. 

Miss  Caroline  Hazard's  The  Golden  State  is  a  39  page 
booklet  of  her  poems,  published  by  the  Schauer  Printing 
Studio,  Santa  Barbara,  California. 

Neijcfort  Music  in  the  XVIIIth  Century.  Charles  Theo- 
dore Pachelbel  and  the  Berkeley  Organ  at  Trinity  Church, 
N eivport y  R.  /.,  is  a  recent  pamphlet  by  Erich  Taylor  of 
Newport. 

Notes 

Mr.  Colin  MacR.  Makepeace  has  presented  to  the 
Society  two  lithographed  sheets  of  counterfeit  Providence 
postage  stamps  to  be  added  to  the  Slater  collection  of 
originals,  restrikes,  and  counterfeits  of  the  Providence 
postage  stamps. 

An  anonymous  friend  of  the  Society  has  presented  the 
Devil's  Foot  Rock  to  the  Society  to  be  held  as  a  public 
historical  outdoor  museum  to  preserve  the  famous  Devil's 
Foot  mark  of  Indian  tradition. 

See  Providence  Sunday  Journal,  July  23,  1939,  Charles 
T.  Jackson's  report  on  the  Geology  of  Rhode  Island,  and 
"The  Fones  Records." 

A  Correction 

In  an  article  on  John  Carter  by  the  late  John  Carter 
Brown  Woods,  in  the  Collections  for  October  191  8,  Vol.  XI, 
p.  107,  the  word  "Unitarian"  should  read  "Universalist 


» 


VISITS  TO  RHODE  ISLAND  117 

A  Journal  of  My  Visits  to  Rhode  Island 
April  17,  1776 

By  W.  Rogers  ' 

April  1  7th,  Wednesday. 

Left  Philadelphia  at  9  o'clock  A.  M.  in  the  Bordentown 
Stage  Boat,  My  Family  well.  Billy  innoculated  ye  Monday 
before  ye  2d  Time  for  ye  Small  Pox.  Got  to  Bordentown 
in  4  hours.  Din'd,  Sup'd  &  Lodged  at  my  good  Friend's 
Mr.  Borden's. 

Thursday  ye  18th.  At  Sun  Rise  took  seat  in  ye  Flying 
Machine  for  South  Amboy.  Breakfasted  &  Din'd  at  Public 
Houses  on  the  Road.  Arrived  at  6  P.  M.  My  Fellow  Pas- 
sengers so  complaisant  as  to  abstain  from  using  bad  Lan- 
guage. An  agreeable  Disappointment!  Cross'd  the  Ferry 
to  North  Amboy,  view'd  ye  Town,  Saw  Mrs.  Marsh,  re- 
turn'd  the  same  Evening,  sup't  &  Lodged  at  South  Amboy. 
My  spirits  rather  low. 

Friday  ye  19th.  Breakfasted  at  South  Amboy,  went  on 
Board  Passage  Boat  at  8  A.  M.  for  New  York,  obliged  to 
come  to  Anchor  for  2  or  3  hours  but  ye  Wind  breesing  up 
fresh  &  fair  weighed  Anchor  &  got  to  New  York  at  j/4  past 


^  William  Rogers  was  born  1751,  )uly  4,  in  Newport,  and  died  182+, 
April  27,  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  the  first  student  in  Rhode  Island 
College  in  Warren  September  1765,  and  for  a  couple  of  months  was  the 
only  student  there.  He  received  from  the  college  the  degree  of  A.B.  1  769, 
and  A.M.  in  1772,  and  also  received  honorarv  degrees  from  the  College 
of  Philadelphia  1773,  Yale  College  1780,  College  of  New  Jersey  1786, 
College  of  Philadelphia  1790.  He  was  a  Brigadier  Chaplain  in  Pennsyl- 
vania Line  U.S.A.  1778-81.  He  was  Professor  of  oratory  and  belles- 
lettres  College  of  Philadelphia  1789-92,  University  of  Pennsylvania 
1  792-1  811,  and  held  many  other  important  public  offices. 

He  was  a  brother  of  John  Rogers,  my  great-great-grandfather,  who 
was  a  trustee  of  Brown  University  1798-1810.  The  original  diary  is  in 
my  possession  and  I  have  had  a  few  copies  made  and  distributed  in  case 
the  original  is  lost.  —  Theodore  Francis  Green. 


118 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 


5  P.  M.  Providentially  met  with  a  sloop  called  ye  Maca- 
roni bound  to  New  London,  just  had  Time  to  get  my  Trunk 
on  board  &  without  an  Opportunity  of  seeing  any  of  my 
Friends  or  Acquaintances  push'd  off  from  ye  wharf  at  6 
P.  M.  with  Fair  Wind  &  Tide.  Run  all  Night.  Slept  but 
little  as  my  Birth  was  very  hard  &  the  Cabin  much  crowded 
with  Passengers.  The  Commander  of  ye  Sloop  was  once 
Capt.  Rogers  of  New  London.  Upon  Enquiry  found  our- 
selves to  be  of  Different  Families.  He  behaved  with  great 
Civility!    The  Vessel  a  Prime  Sailor! 

Saturday  20th.  The  Wind  fair  &  fresh.  Breakfasted 
with  small  Appetite.  My  mind  much  agitated  between  my 
Manima  on  ye  one  side  &  my  Billy  on  the  Other.  Arrived 
at  New  London  at  ^^  past  One  P.  M.  A  fine  Passage! 
Dined  at  one  Doughlas's  a  Public  House  —  Towards  Eve- 
ning waited  upon  Capt.  Shaw  where  I  understood  Capt. 
Hopkins  of  ye  Cabot  lodged.  Received  an  Invitation  to 
Stay  there!  Accepted  as  I  was  a  Stranger  in  Town!  Sup'd 
with  ye  Commodore  &  about  1 1  w^ent  to  Rest  amazingly 
fatigued. 

Sunday  ye  21st.  Much  refresh'd  with  the  Preceeding 
Night's  Sleep.  Breakfasted  at  Capt.  Shaw's  in  Company 
with  ye  Commodore,  his  son  etc.  May  I  always  remember 
with  Gratitude  ye  Kindness  shown  me  by  Capt.  Shaw  & 
I^ady!  At  j^  past  10  A.  M.  went  on  board  ye  Macaroni  to 
proceed  to  Norwich  Landing  in  Company  with  Capt.  Bill- 
ings. In  2  hours  we  went  on  shore  —  we  had  to  sail  only 
14  miles.  Dined  at  a  public  House,  the  Keeper's  Name  was 
Mr.  Backus.  After  Dinner  went  to  the  Presbyterian  Meet- 
ing—  heard  one  Mr.  Judson  preach,  his  Text  Eph.  2.  10 
—  A  Child  was  christened.  I  felt  no  Fellowship  with  this 
Invention  of  Man's.  After  Service  enquir'd  ye  Way  to  Coll. 
Malbone's,  a  valuable  Gentleman  who  resided  in  ye  Town 
of  Newport  till  ye  late  Troubles  &  with  whom  I  was  well 
acquainted  —  he  &  Family  very  glad  to  see  me  &  intreated 
me  to  stay  with  them  that  Night.  I  accordingly  did  —  The 
Lord  reward  them! 


VISITS  TO  RHODE  ISLAND  119 

Monday  ye  22d.  Breakfast  being  Ended  walk'd  to  Nor- 
wich Town  with  Capt.  Malbone.  Din'd  at  his  Father's  — 
Spent  ye  afternoon  at  the  Landing  —  could  get  no  Horse 
to  proceed  on  my  Journey.  Lodged  again  at  ye  Colls.  Felt 
my  Anxiety  concerning  my  Mother  increase  as  I  got  nearer 
home,  not  being  capable  of  obtaining  any  Information 
whether  she  was  alive! 

Tuesday  ye  23d.  Arose  very  early  —  my  Trunk  sent 
away  in  a  Waggon  —  by  Coll.  Malbone's  friendly  Aid 
obtain'd  an  horse  for  myself.  Set  off  instantly  for  Provi- 
dence in  Company  with  Capt.  Billings  who  was  to  take  ye 
Horse  back.  Din'd  at  Mr.  Dorrance's  in  Volentown. 
Reached  Providence  towards  Evening,  lighted  &  with  a 
trembling  heart  went  in  —  found  my  dear  Mother  very 
low  indeed  lying  stupid  &  insensible  —  her  Disorder  being 
principally  in  her  head  &  of  ye  nervous  convulsive  kind. 
She  knew  me  not  —  my  heart  was  full  —  Lord,  what  is 
Man!  Here  I  saw  Ciranmamma,  Aunt  Thurston,  Becky, 
Abby,  Dan'l.  &  Family,  etc.  etc.  All  well  as  usual!  In  the 
Evening  was  visited  by  President  Manning.  After  Supper 
&  Prayer  retir'd  to  Rest. 

Wednesday  ye  24th.  After  Rising  went  in  to  see  Mamma, 
she  was  lying  in  One  of  those  Fitts  of  which  I  am  told  she 
has  had  many,  from  Morning  till  Night  she  thus  continued 
without  taking  any  Notice  of  Persons  or  things  —  Dr. 
Arnold  coming  I  was  very  particular  with  him  respecting 
her  Disorder.  He  told  me  it  was  not  explicable  &  intimated 
yt.  All  Hope  was  gone.  We  all  expected  she  could  not 
continue  long.  Din'd  at  Home  —  P.  M.  went  to  see  Mr.  & 
Mrs.  Manning  drank  Tea  &  return'd.  Sat  part  of  ye  Eve- 
ning at  Cousin  Sweeting's.  At  Bed  Time  Mamma  no  better. 
I  never  expected  she  could  without  Immediate  Relief  live 
till  Morning.  My  Fortitude  was  gone  but  Religion  was  my 
Stay. 

Thursday  ye  25th,  Our  dear  Parent  was  reliev'd  in  Some 
measure  From  her  preceeding  Day's  Illness  &  talk'd  con- 
siderably but  entirely  flighty.    She  still  knew  me  not  but 


120  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

call'd  me  at  different  Times  by  different  Names  —  my 
Situation  was  peculiarly  trying! — Din'd  at  Home — Trunk 
arriv'd  —  Lydia's  Cloaths  all  Safe  &  undamag'd.  In  ye 
Evening  went  to  Conference  at  Baptist  Meeting.  Para- 
phras'd  on  a  Few  Verses  out  of  1st  Thess:  5th  Chapj  was 
much  comforted  i  Spoke  to  Several  of  my  old  Acquaintances 
was  desir'd  to  visit  them.  The  Cause  of  Jesus  here  appears 
to  have  many  Advocates!  May  they  go  on  &  prosper  — 
Friday  ye  26th.  We  discover'd  a  Surprising  Alteration 
in  Mamma  for  ye  better.  Joy  sat  on  our  Countenances! 
Tho'  for  ye  greatest  Part  of  ye  Morning  She  was  prodi- 
giously out  yet  about  Noon  She  talk'd  quite  rational  &  re- 
peatedly called  me  by  Name.  In  ye  Afternoon  She  sat  up 
for  2  or  3  hours  in  ye  easy  Chair  &  was  quite  compos'd  — 
Dr.  Arnold  encourag'd  upon  finding  an  Evacuation  of  Mat- 
ter from  ye  Head.  Spent  ye  Day  at  home  till  just  at  Dusk 

—  was  in  hopes  of  hearing  from  my  Wife  &  Child  but  did 
not.  Previous  to  going  to  Bed  Mamma  desir'd  me  to  attend 
Evening  Prayers  in  her  Room.  This  Day  Dan'l  &  Nancy 
went  to  Housekeeping.   Capt.  Whitman  call'd  to  See  me. 

Saturday  ye  27th.  Mamma  much  the  same  as  ye  pre- 
ceeding  Day  —  only  rather  more  free  from  Bewilderment 

—  a  happy  Change!  Din'd  at  home  P.  M.  President  Man- 
ning &  myself  waited  on  Gov.  Cooke  —  drank  Coffee 
There.  Spent  ye  Evening  in  Retirement  to  prepare  for 
The  Sabbath. 

Sunday  ye  28th.  Preached  in  ye  Morning  &  at  Candle 
Light  for  the  President,  Felt  much  Freedom.  The  Presi- 
dent preached  in  ye  afternoon  himself  from  St.  Math: 
28.18.  Dined  at  his  House  —  At  >^  past  4.  One  Mr. 
Waterman  was  baptised,  many  People  present.  Drank 
Tea  at  Danl's  in  Company  with  Mr.  Hardy  of  Philada. 
Mamma  this  Day  no  better  &  we  hope  no  worse  Than 
yesterday.  She  sat  up  a  little  &  was  at  Spells  Something 
flighty.  We  are  fearfully  &  wonderfully  made!  — Re- 
pair'd  to  Bed  considerably  fatigued  as  is  usual  with  one 
after  Engagedness  in  Preaching  — 


VISITS  TO   RHODE   ISLAND  121 

Monday  ye  29th.  Mamma  not  quite  so  well  tho'  very 
comfortable  &  much  compos'd  in  Mind.  Visited  several  of 
my  Friends  —  Din'd  at  Mr.  Dabney's.  Call'd  to  see  a 
Sick  Woman,  convers'd  &  pray'd  with  her,  she  appear'd  to 
be  under  much  Soul  Concern.  Uncle  Thurston  came  up, 
was  extremely  glad  to  see  him  —  May  we  all  be  prepar'd 
to  meet  in  Heaven  — 

Tuesday  ye  30th.  No  material  Alteration  in  our  dear 
Mother.  Din'd  at  Cousin  Sweeting's  with  Uncle  Thurs- 
ton —  PM  heard  Mr.  Snow  preach  before  an  Independent 
Company  from  Luke  3.14.  There  were  many  anxious  mili- 
tary Remarks  in  the  sermon  to  some  people  perhaps  ac- 
ceptable. Drank  tea  at  Mr.  Foell's  &  spent  ye  evening  at 
Daniel's.  Forwarded  a  Letter  per  Post  to  my  Wife  at 
Philada.  and  another  to  Robert  at  Westerly.  For  ye  most 
Part  of  this  Day  it  was  very  rainy. 

Wednesday  May  ye  1st.  About  9  o'clock  Mamma  had 
a  Fit  of  ye  convulsive  kind  intermix'd  as  ye  Dr.  says  with 
something  of  the  Apoplexy,  at  12  she  had  another,  both 
were  short  but  hard,  out  of  each  she  recover'd  in  the  free 
Exercise  of  Reason  and  manifested  by  her  conversation  & 
Deportment  the  utmost  Resignation  to  the  divine  Will! 
All  of  us  much  shock'd.  The  great  Jehovah  prepare  us 
for  whatever  may  await  us!  This  Day  was  ye  Gen'l.  Elec- 
tion for  ye  Colony,  the  Gov.  Council  &  House  of  Deputies 
were  escorted  to  ye  Court  House  &  back  again  by  2  Com- 
panies belonging  to  ye  Town.  I  din'd  at  Mr.  Wellcome 
Arnold's.  Saw  many  of  my  Newport  Acquaintances. 
Tommy  Gair  call'd  to  see  me,  he  expects  to  settle  at  Med- 
field.  He  appears  promising.  Received  a  Letter  from 
Bobby  pressing  me  on  my  Return  to  stay  a  Night  with  him 
at  Westerly. 

Thursday  May  ye  2d.  After  Breakfast  Uncle  Thurston 
Aunt  Fanny  took  leave  of  ye  Family  &  set  out  for  Newport. 
Din'd  at  Mr.  Foster's.  In  the  Afternoon  visited  Commo- 
dore Hopkin's  Family,  drank  Tea  There.  Mamma  all  this 
Day  long  very  stupid  &  insensible  having  in  the  Morning 


122  RHODE   ISLAND    HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

had  2  Fitts  —  much  Discourag'd  —  our  Hope  gone!  May 
God  of  his  infinite  Mercy  draw  nigh  unto  her  and  put 
underneath  her  his  everlasting  Arm!  Spent  ye  Evening 
at  home  —  endeavor'd  frequently  to  talk  with  Mamma  but 
it  signify'd  nothing  — 

Friday  May  ye  3d.  Mamma  this  Day  as  yesterday  exclu- 
sive of  ye  Fitts.  She  took  a  Psike  which  operated  gently  — 
nature  appears  to  decay  fast.  The  western  Post  arrived. 
Received  a  Letter  from  my  dear  Wife  of  ye  27th.  Ult. 
Herself  well  6l  my  sweet  Boy  like  to  have  ye  small  pox. 
Favorable,  for  which  may  zve  ye  Parents  praise  the  Lord 
&  be  enabled  to  Dedicate  him  to  ye  service  of  his  all  gracious 
Preserver.  Din'd  at  Danl's,  very  agreeably  entertain'd. 
At  4  o'clock  P.  M.  set  out  for  Warren,  arrived  between 
6  &  7.  Drank  Tea  at  Mr.  John  Child's  —  sent  for  Mr. 
Thompson,  he  came,  talk'd  as  much  together  as  ye  Time 
would  allow  —  went  to  Cousin  Comer's,  spent  a  very 
sociable  Evening  —  the  Family  all  well!  Sup'd,  attended 
Duty  and  Repair'd  to  Beci. 

Saturday  ye  4th.  Breakfasted  at  Cousin  Comer's  —  left 
there  at  9  o'clock  A.  M.  —  got  to  Newport  at  One  —  put 
up  at  Uncle  Thurston's,  after  Dinner  saw  Brother  Johnny, 
Aunt  Sanford,  Cousin  Abby,  etc. — all  in  usual  health! 
P.  M.  visited  ye  Battery  at  ye  Point,  a  surprising  Alteration 
in  the  Town!  Oh  that  our  Affection  may  be  wean'd  from 
ye.  Things  of  Time  &  sense!  The  Lord  hear  the  Prayers 
which  are  daily  put  up  in  Behalf  of  the  Place  &  still  spare 
it  for  his  People's  sake.  Drank  Coffee  at  my  worthy  Uncle's. 
Afterwards  took  a  little  walk.  In  the  Evening  Dr.  Easton 
call'd  to  see  me.  Supper  &  Family  Prayer  being  over  went 
to  Bed.  Much  cast  down  upon  hearing  a  Relation  of  the 
Distresses  the  dear  Lihabitants  have  had  to  pass  through  — 
forgot  to  mention  that  in  Crossing  Bristol  Ferry  saw  a  Fort 
building  &  was  informed  that  on  ye  Rhode  Island  side  a 
Place  was  also  mark'd  out  for  One  for  ye.  Defence  & 
Security  of  that  important  Pass  —  No  Men  of  War  in  ye 
Harbor. 


VISITS  TO   KHODK   ISLAND  123 

Sunday  ye  5th.  Preached  both  Parts  of  ye  Day  for  Uncle 
Thurston.  Ye  House  fuller  than  1  expected,  so  many 
People  having  left  ye  Town  —  felt  very  comfortably.  In 
ye  Afternoon  sat  down  at  ye  Table  of  ye  Lord  —  would 
to  God  I  could  enjoy  such  opportunities  frequently  —  saw 
many  young  Newport  Friends  &  Acquaintances  —  greatly 
pleas'cl  with  ye  Solemnity  apparent  among  the  Negro 
Members  at  ye  Time  of  Communion.  Breakfasted  &  Din'd 
at  Uncle's  —  Drank  Tea  at  Aunt  Sanford's,  Johnny  with 
me.  In  ye  Evening  call'd  to  see  Cousin  Burroughs  who  is 
far  gone  in  Consumption  —  pray'd  with  him,  he  appear'd 
resign'd  to  ye  divine  Will — After  spending  a  few  moments 
with  him  repair'd  home. 

Monciay  ye  6th.  Breakfasted  at  Uncle  Thurston's.  In 
Company  with  him  din'd  at  Bro.  Johnny's  apartment. 
Wrote  a  Letter  &  sent  it  per  post  to  mv  dear  Mrs.  Rogers, 
visited  some  few  families.  P.  M.  Coll:  Richmond  waited 
upon  Llncle  &  myself  to  the  Battery  which  is  with  much 
Spirit  erecting  at  Brenton's  Point  near  ye  mouth  of  ye 
harbor,  the  Inhabitants  of  Newport  work  here  in  Rotation. 
After  this  ye  Coll.  went  with  us  to  ye  Fort  on  Goat  Island, 
Breastworks  are  here  carried  up  with  great  Rapidity  &  ap- 
pear vastly  advantageous.  Drank  Coffee  at  Wm.  Anthony's 
who  lives  in  One  of  our  houses  —  ye  other  2  are  also  occu- 
pied. All  Rent  free  —  The  Fences  round  our  several  lots 
&  useful  Garden  taken  away  entirely  &  burnt,  such  Havoc 
mine  Eyes  never  before  beheld!  Houses  torn  to  Pieces 
etc.  Johnny  towards  Evening  walk'd  with  me  about  ye 
Town  —  call'd  on  Uncle  Rogers  —  rather  Fatigued  which 
made  me  anxious  to  seek  after  Refreshment  in  ye  Arms  of 
Sleep. 

Tuesday  ye  7th.  Purpos'd  this  Day  returning  to  Provi- 
dence but  it  being  rainy  was  detain'd  in  Newport.  Break- 
fasted &  Din'd  at  Uncle's  —  After  Dinner  went  to  ye  Print- 
ing Office  &  drank  Coffee  with  Mr.  Southwick.  Towards 
Evening  call'd  on  Bro.  Johnny  &  took  a  walk  to  ve  Point 
Fort.  In  the  Evening  waited  on  Dr.  Stiles  at  Mr.  Trevett's, 


124  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

Our  conversation  wholly  political,  the  Dr.  is  a  very  curious 
Gentleman  —  heard  that  22  Towns  in  the  Government 
were  for  Independancy  —  the  Upper  House  chose  not  to 
meddle  with  it  untill  establish'd  by  Congress  —  they  voted 
out  taking  ye  Oath  &  Allegiance. 

Wednesday  ye  8th.  After  Breakfast  took  Leave  of  John- 
ny, Aunt  Thurston  etc.  &  set  out  for  Providence.  Uncle 
accompanied  me  8  Miles  from  Town  —  Oh  that  I  may 
treasure  up  in  my  Memory  the  excellent  Advice  given  me 
by  a  Friend  so  sincere !  In  Bristol  call'd  upon  Cousin  Comer 
&  Family  but  did  not  light  from  my  horse  —  got  to  Warren 
little  after  12  &  din'd  at  Mr.  John  Child's,  visited  Mr. 
Thompson  &  Mr.  Lyndon.  About  Noon  it  began  to  Rain 
which  render'd  the  latter  part  of  my  Journey  very  dis- 
agreeable so  that  by  ye  Time  I  reached  Providence  I  was 
thoroughly  wet,  it  being  5  o'clock  P.  M.  when  I  arrived  — 
Mamma  I  found  extremely  low,  having  had  while  I  was 
absent  several  other  Fitts,  to  me  there  appear'd  a  visible 
Change,  her  Countenance  savor'd  more  of  Paleness  &  her 
Strength  almost  gone,  she  was  lying  very  stupid  &  insensi- 
ble. Mr.  Hardy  of  Philada.  supp'd  with  us  —  having  at- 
tended Prayer  in  Mamma's  Room  was  desirous  of  Rest 
being  much  fatigued  with  my  Day's  Ride. 

Thursday  ye  9th.  This  morning  Pricilla  Brown  came  to 
our  House  —  Breakfasted  at  home  —  walk'd  out  —  Din'd 
at  home.  In  ye  Afternoon  rode  2  or  3  miles  with  Mr. 
Manning,  upon  my  Return  discover'd  an  affecting  Altera- 
tion in  my  dear  Mother  —  we  with  other  Friends  present 
judg'd  her  to  be  near  her  End.  How  severe  ye  Rod!  Went 
to  Bed  expecting  every  Moment  to  be  call'd  up  to  see  her 
no  more  a  living  Person!  Her  Strength  far  gone  as  to  in- 
capacitate her  for  Conversation.  Wrote  a  Letter  to  Uncle 
Thurston  upon  ye  subject.   Felt  much  Dejected  — 

Friday  ye  10th.  This  Day  Mamma  no  better.  All  of  us 
much  alarm'd  —  How  awfull  is  Death  in  his  Approach! 
Many  Friends  visited  us  but  alas  they  cannot  supply  ye 
Place  nor  make  up  ye  loss  of  ye  best  of  Parents!    Tarry 'd 


VISITS  TO   RHODE   ISLAND  125 

at  home  excepting  a  walk  after  Dinner  to  ye  Post  Office 
in  hope  of  hearing  from  my  Wife  &  Child  but  was  sorrow- 
fully disappointed.  Mr.  Manning  in  the  Evening  pray'd 
with  the  Family — When  we  are  about  being  depriv'd  of 
any  earthly  Blessing  how  are  we  taught  to  prize  ye  same — 
Oh  for  submission  to  ye  Will  of  God  who  does  what  is 
Right. 

Saturday  ye  11th.  A  Day  ever  to  be  remember'd  by  us, 
at  1 2  o'clock  A.  M.  our  dearest  Mother  Departed  this  Life, 
she  dyed  seemingly  with  greater  Ease  than  any  of  us  had 
Reason  to  Expect — Oh  that  my  last  End  may  be  like  her's! 
Blessed  are  they  who  dye  in  ye  Lord!  May  Jehovah  be  a 
Friend  to  ye  Motherless  &  a  Father  to  the  Fatherless!  Oh 
that  all  of  us  may  be  preserv'd  as  in  ye  hollow  of  his  Hand! 
Concluded  to  have  the  Body  carried  to  Newport  &  interr'd 
by  the  side  of  her  Husband  and  Children — Sent  off  Mr. 
Ingraham  express  to  Newport  &  Westerly — Visited  &  as- 
sisted by  a  Number  of  Friends!  In  the  Evening  Mr.  Man- 
ning call'd  and  pray'd  with  us — "Lord,  have  Mercy  upon 
me  and  so  teach  one  to  number  my  Days  to  Apply  my  heart 
with  Wisdom" — Heard  that  Mr.  Pechin  of  Philada.  an 
Acquaintance  of  Mine  had  come  to  Town,  sent  a  Serv't.  to 
learn  whether  he  had  brought  any  Letters  for  me.  None 
sent.  A  Circumstance  wch  had  a  Tendency  to  add  to  my 
Grief — surely  my  dear  Wife  was  ignorant  of  an  Oppor- 
tunity wch  would  have  prov'd  so  favourable. 

Sunday  ye  12th.  Arose  at  Yi  past  3  in  ye  Morn.  A 
number  of  Friends  came  to  our  House  and  after  taking 
Breakfast  we  went  with  the  Body  of  our  dear  Mother  to 
the  Passage  Boat  &  got  underWay  a  little  before  five — 6  of 
us  Children  accompanied  with  Mrs.  Manning,  Gran- 
mamma,  Becky,  Sanford,  Sally  Drown,  George  Benson, 
John  Jones  &  Mr.  Godfrey — the  Wind  tho'  at  first  flatter- 
ing yet  in  less  than  2  hours  breez'd  fresh  and  fair  so  that 
we  got  to  Newport  all  safe  at  1 0  o'clock.  The  meeting  with 
Bro:  Johnny,  Uncle  &  Aunt  Thurston  &  other  Relations 
upon  an  Occasion  so  sorrowfull  was  truly  affecting — like 


126  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

Job  &  his  Companions  we  were  all  a  considerable  Time 
mute,  The  Body  was  taken  to  Uncle's — We  all  spent  ye 
Day  there  together,  many  call'd  in  to  see  &  condole  with 
us.  In  ye  Evening  there  was  a  Conference  at  Uncle's.  Mr. 
Bliss  attended  &  Much  comforted  us  in  Exhortation  and  in 
Prayer — Over  Fatigue  of  Body  &  Mind  almost  Overcome 
me — "Oh  my  dear  Mother,  would  to  God  I  had  dyed  for 
Thee,  but  his  Will  be  done."  When  my  Father  &  Mother 
forsake  me,  the  Lord  will  bear  me  up. 

Monday  ye  13th.  Having  lodg'd  at  Uncle's  slept  all 
Night  better  than  I  expected.  In  ye  Morning  awoke  with  a 
bad  Head  Ach — Rob't  arrived  before  Breakfast  very  much 
fatigued — 8  of  us  ye  surviving  children  at  ye  dear  De- 
ceased now  together.  Wrote  a  Tetter  to  my  Wife  &  One  to 
Mr.  Trickett  &  sent  them  away  per  post — Cousin  Comer 
got  down.  My  Spirits  very  low — P.  M.  People  met  for 
the  Funeral,  at  4  o'clock  the  Corpse  was  taken  to  Uncle's 
Meeting  House  where  a  suitable  Sermon  was  preached  on 
ye  Occasion  by  Mr.  Wm.  Bliss  from  Rev.  14:13.  "And  I 
heard  a  Voice  from  Heaven,  saying  unto  me,  W^rite,  Blessed 
are  the  Dead  which  dye  in  the  Lord,  from  Henceforth"  A 
very  respectable  Concourse  of  People  present.  After  Ser- 
mon we  went  to  ye  Grave  and  paid  ye  last  kind  Offices  to 
ye  precious  Relicks  of  our  dearest  Mother — where  she  is 
to  sleep  until  ye  Resurrection  of  the  Just — How  doubly 
near  do  my  Brothers  and  Sisters  seem  now — God  grant  that 
we  may  all  be  One  in  Grace  as  we  are  in  Nature — Retur'd 
to  our  dear  Friend's  &  Father's  habitation  and  in  the  Eve- 
ning enjoy'd  much  X-tian  Conversation. 

Tuesday  ye  14th.  Breakfasted  at  Uncle's — Walk'd  out 
with  Rob't  to  see  some  of  our  Acquaintance,  Din'd  at  Aunt 
Sanford's — P.  M.  Rode  with  Josey  to  Cousin  Stoddard's, 
drank  Tea  there,  had  considerable  Conversation  on  serious 
Matters  with  Polly  &  Abby.  Spent  ye  evening  at  Mr. 
Barker's,  return'd  to  Uncle's,  sup'd,  attended  Duty  &  went 
to  Bed. 

Wednesday  ye  1  5th.  About  1  2  o'clock  myself  and  Fam- 


VISITS  TO   RHODE   ISLAND  127 

ily  took  leave  of  our  Newport  Relations  &  set  out  for  Prov- 
idence in  Wescott's  Packett — arrived  at  4  P.  M. — At  6 
One  of  ye  Frigates  was  launch'd — Drank  Coffee  at  home — 
Spent  ye  Evening  at  Mr.  Brown's  in  Company  with  Dr. 
Morgan  of  Philada. 

Thursday  ye  16th.  This  Day  remarkably  warm.  Mr. 
Lopez  came  to  view  our  house  &  engages  to  take  it  at  ye 
Rate  of  1 30  Dollars  pr.  year,  if  he  stays  in  it  a  shorter  Time, 
he  is  to  give  more — Went  to  Presidt.  Manning's  &  din'd 
there — Josey  &c  busy  in  measuring  &  taking  an  Acct.  of  ye 
Shop  Goods — Drank  Coffee  at  Danl's  in  Company  with 
Mr.  Pechin.  Return'd  home,  in  the  Evening  we  look't 
over  ye  Money  appertaining  to  ye  Estate — as  an  Adjustmt 
of  temporal  Matters  among  us  becomes  necessary  in  Con- 
sequence of  our  Mother's  Death. 

Friday  ye  1  7th.  This  Day  was  observed  as  ye  general 
Fast  advertised  by  Congress — Went  to  Baptist  Meeting. 
Mr.  Manning  &  myself  carried  on  ye  Forenoon  Service  by 
Reading,  Exhortation  &  Prayer — In  ye  Afternoon  he 
preached  an  excellent  Sermon  from  Isaiah  58.1.  After 
Service  walk'd  home  with  Mr.  Manning  and  tarried  there 
till  Evening — Spent  ye  Evening  at  Mr.  Carter's  the 
Printer  of  ye  Providence  Gazette  — 

Saturday  ye  1  8th.  Uncle  Thurston  came  up  to  assist  us — 
din'd  with  him  at  Danl's.  P.  M.  Wrote  a  Letter  to  my  dear 
Hannah  and  to  Mr.  R.  Jones  &  Spent  y'm  by  Mr.  Jno 
Brown.  Visited  by  Mr.  Nathan  Cole  of  Rehoboth  who  was 
formerly  at  my  house  in  Philada.  with  Mr.  Winchester. 

Sunday  ye  19th.  A.  M.  Presidt.  Manning  preached  a 
Sermon  to  ye  Family  upon  Acct.  of  our  Mamma's  Death 
from  1  Cor:  7.29 — 31. — A  very  suitable  Discourse,  the 
Advice  given  to  ye  Children  God  grant  we  may  all  Re- 
member &  put  in  Practise — P.  M.  2  O'clock  I  preached 
from  2  Kings  20.  1.  last  Clause — At  6  Uncle  Thurston 
preached  from  Philip:  4.4  People  very  attentive — This 
day  din'd  at  honie — Spent  part  of  ye  Evening  at  Mr.  Nich- 
olas Brown's — 


128  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Monday  ye  20th.  At  home  all  Day,  employed  in  prising 
&  dividing  ye  household  Furniture — Visited  by  Cousin 
Sweeting  &  Mr.  Godfrey — 

Tuesday  ye  2 1  st.  Early  in  ye  Morning  Uncle  Thurston 
went  away — Employed  all  Day  &  in  ye  Evening  as  ye 
preceeding  Day — In  ye  Afternoon  Mr.  Pechin  of  Philada. 
call'd  &  drank  Tea  with  us — 

Wednesday  ye  22d.  This  Day  busy  upon  the  Same  Mat- 
ters as  took  up  my  Time  on  Monday  &  Tuesday. 

Thursday  ye  23d.  Finish'd  ye  Sale  of  Household  Furni- 
ture among  ourselves  &  in  ye  Afternoon  had  a  Vendue  for 
what  Remain'd.  Mr.  Backus  in  Town  &  visited  me;  Sup't. 
at  Danls.  went  to  Cousin  Sweeting's  &  lodged, 

Friday  ye  24th.  Din'd  at  Nicholas  Brown's  wth  Robert 
— Post  got  in,  no  Letter  for  me.  Busy  at  Abby's  ye  main 
Part  of  ye  Day  in  Estate  Matters.  Sup't  &  Lodged  at 
Cousin  Sweeting's — 

Saturday  ye  25th.  A.  M.  Danl.  Set  out  for  Newpt.  to 
have  Mamma's  Will  proved.  Din'd  at  Cousin  Sweeting's. 
P.  M.  Employed  in  looking  over  Some  Family  Papers. 
In  ye  Evening  Return'd  to  where  I  had  lodged  ye  2  pre- 
ceeding Nights — previous  to  going  to  Bed  Spent  a  few 
moments  in  Meditation. 

Sunday  ye  26th.  Attended  Baptist  Meeting  and  preached 
in  ye  Morning.  Mr.  Manning  preached  in  ye  Afternoon 
from  2.  Cor:  3.18.  In  the  Evening  we  went  to  ye  Society 
&  I  expounded  the  7th  Chap.  St.  Mathew.  Afterwards 
agreeable  to  promise  went  to  Nich's.  Brown's  at  whose 
house  I  tarried  all  Night.  Din'd  at  Abby's  &  drank  Tea 
at  Mr.  Manning's. 

Monday  ye  27th.  Breakfasted  at  Nich's.  Brown's  in 
Company  with  Mr.  Binney.  Din'd  there  also — spent  ye 
major  Part  of  ye  Day  in  walking  about.  In  ye  Evening 
repair'd  to  Presid't.  Manning's  and  tarried  all  Night.  No 
material  Occurrence! 

(To  be  Concluded.^ 


Rhode    Island 

Historical    Society 

Collections 


Vol.  XXXIII 


JANUARY,  1940  No.  1 


\SMZ 


:^»i^o> 


FL.'\G   OF   NEWPORT   LIGHT  INFANTRY 


Sef  Page  1 


Issued  Quarterly 


68  Waterman  Street,  Providence,  Rhode  Island 


CONTENTS 


Newport  Light  Infantry 

by  Paul  Francis  Gleeson 


PAGE 


A  Journal  of  my  Visits  to  Rhode  Island 
by  W.  Rogers, 


14 


Early  Ship  Protests 


18 


New  Publications  of  Rhode  Island  Interest 


19 


List  of  Members 


•  • 


20 


ov^ls^o^' 


OP  DOOUtftO^ 


RHODE 
HISTORICAL 


ISLAND 

SOCIETY 


COLLECTIONS 


Vol.  XXXIII 


JANUARY,   1940 


No.  1 


Harry  Parsons  Cross,  President 
William  Davis  Miller,  Secretary 


Robert  T.  Downs,  Treasurer 
Howard  M.  Chapin,  Librarian 


The  Society  assumes  no  responsibility  for  the  statements  or  the  opinions 
of  contributors. 


The  Newport  Light  Infantry 

By  Paul  Francis  Gleeson 

The  Newport  Light  Infantry  was  one  of  that  group  of 
military  companies  incorporated  just  prior  to  the  Revolu- 
tion by  the  General  Assembly.  Some  of  the  others  chartered 
at  this  time  were  the  Providence  Grenadier  Company,  Paw- 
tuxet  Rangers,  Scituate  Hunters  and  the  Kentish  Guards.^ 

In  the  early  autumn  of  1774  a  group  from  Newport 
formed  this  new  military  organization.  These  men  viewing 
with  much  concern  "the  low  State  of  Military  Discipline  in 
this  Colony"  wished  to  form  a  company  to  perfect  them- 
selves in  the  same  "by  more  frequent  and  regular  Exercises 
than  can  be  had  in  the  Militia  in  its  present  State.""  As  a 
result,  the  General  Assembly,  at  its  session  on  the  last 
Wednesday  in  October,  was  petitioned  for  a  charter. 

This  document,  which  was  prepared  by  the  company 
and  which  was  passed  by  the  Assembly,  with  certain  modifi- 
cations, reads  as  follows: 


^  Richards,  John  j.,  Rhode  Isla/uPs  Early  Deje/iders,  pp.  18-19. 
-  Petitions  to  the  Rhode  Island  General  Assembly,  \'o\.  1  S,  p.  115. 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

"Whereas  the  Preservation  of  this  Colony,  in  Time 
of  War,  depends,  under  God,  upon  the  Military  Skill, 
and  Discipline  of  the  Inhabitants:  And  whereas  a  Num- 
ber of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Ne'ucport,  to  wit: 
Jabez  Champliny  Caleb  Gardner^  Elisha  Lazvtoriy  Ben- 
jamin L.  Peckham,  Samuel  Spooner^  Samuel  C.  Carry 
Joseph  Hilly  George  Gardner,  Jonathan  Wallen,  Noel 
Allen,  Jonathan  Simmons,  Lemuel  Bailey,  William 
Tew,  Moses  Watson,  James  Cullio,  Philip  Moss,  Henry 
Dayton,  Wing  Spooner,  Nathaniel  Otis,  Samuel  Stevens, 
Thomas  Stevens,  Joseph  M^hicher,  Thomas  Hughes, 
JoJm  Topham,  Hezekiah  Dayton,  Robert  Dunbar, 
Stephen  Hawkins,  Nathaniel  Gladding,  James  Bell, 
Samuel  James,  Jonathan  Yeates,  John  Stevens,  jun., 
Jeremiah  Phillips,  William  Donham,  Nathaniel  Jenkins, 
Joseph  Lyon,  William  Tripp,  Thomas  Dunton,  Jonathan 
Pierce,  and  R.  RennohPs  Barker,  have  offered  them- 
selves to  begin,  and,  with  such  others  as  are,  or  shall  be, 
added  to  them,  to  form  themselves  into  a  Company,  by 
the  Name  of  the  Newport  Light  Infantry,  in  the  County 
of  Newport,  and  by  their  humble  Petition,  prayed  this 
Assembly,  to  grant  them  a  Charter,  with  such  Privileges, 
and  under  such  Restrictions  and  Limitations,  as  this  As- 
sembly might  think  proper: 

"Wherefore,  this  Assembly,  in  Order  to  give  all  due 
Encouragement  to  so  laudable  a  design,  have  Ordained, 
Constituted,  and  Ciranted,  and  by  these  Presents  do 
Ordain,  Constitute,  and  Grant,  That  they,  the  Petitioners 
before-named,  together  with  such  others  as  shall  be  here- 
after added  to  them  (not  exceeding  the  Number  of  One 


"  Jabez  Champlin  was  born  on  August  31,  1728  the  son  of  the  second 
Christopher  Champlin.  He  was  long  prominent  in  the  military  and  civil 
life  of  Newport  County.  In  1776,  in  his  capacity  as  High  Sheriff, 
Champlin  took  the  charter  out  of  the  house  of  Governor  Wanton  when 
the  latter  refused  to  take  the  oath  of  office.  Having  achieved  the  rank  of 
Brigadier-General,  he  resigned  from  the  command  of  the  Newport  and 
Bristol  County  Brigade  in  May,  1793. 


NEWPORT  LKillT   INFANTRY 


Hundred,  exclusive  of  Officers )  be,  and  they  are  hereby, 
declared  to  be  an  Independent  Company,  by  the  Name 
of  the  Newport  Light  Infantry,  for  the  County  of  New- 
port: And  by  that  Name  they  shall  have  perpetual  Suc- 
cession, and  shall  have  and  enjoy  all  the  Rights,  Powers, 
and  Privileges,  in  this  Grant  hereafter  mentioned. 

"Imprimis,  It  is  granted  unto  the  said  Company  that 
they,  or  the  greater  Number  of  them,  shall,  and  may, 
once  in  every  Year,  that  is  to  say,  on  the  last  Tuesday  in 
April y  meet  and  assemble  themselves  together,  in  some 
convenient  Place  by  theni  appointed,  then  and  there  to 
chuse  their  Officers,  to  wit:  One  Captain,  Two  Lieu- 
tenants, One  Ensign,  and  all  other  Officers  necessary  for 
training,  disciplining  and  well  ordering  of  the  said  Com- 
pany —  At  which  Election  no  Officer  shall  be  chosen, 
but  by  the  greater  Number  of  Votes  then  present:  The 
Captain,  Lieutenants,  and  Ensign,  to  be  approved  of  by 
the  Governor  and  Council,  for  the  Time  being,  and  shall 
be  commissioned,  and  engaged,  in  the  same  Manner  that 
other  Military  Officers,  in  this  Colony,  are. 

"Secondly,  That  the  said  Company  shall  have  Liberty 
to  meet  and  exercise  themselves  upon  such  other  Days,  and 
as  often,  as  they  shall  think  necessary,  and  not  be  subject  to 
the  Orders  or  Directions  of  the  Colonel,  or  other  Field- 
Officers  of  the  Regiment,  in  whose  District  they  live,  in 
said  Meeting  and  Exercising:  And  that  they  be  obliged 
to  meet  for  Exercising,  at  least.  Four  Times  in  the  Year, 
upon  the  Penalty  of  paying,  to  and  for  the  Use  of  the 
said  Company,  the  following  Fines,  to  wit:  The  Captain, 
for  each  Day's  Neglect,  Forty  Shillings,  lawful  Money, 
the  Lieutenants  and  Ensign,  each  Twelve  Shillings,  law- 
ful Money,  the  Clerk,  the  Sergeants  and  Corporals,  each 
Twelve  Shillings,  lawful  Money,  and  the  common  Sol- 
diers each  Six  Shillings,  lawful  Money,  to  be  levied  by 
Warrant  of  Distress  from  the  Captain  or  Superior  Officer 
of  said  Company,  for  the  Time  being,  directed  to  the 
Clerk. 


RIIODK   ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

"Thirdly,  That  the  said  Company,  or  the  greater 
Number  of  them,  shall  have  Power  to  make  such  Rules 
and  Orders,  among  themselves,  as  they  shall  think  nec- 
essary to  promote  the  End  of  the  Establishment  j  and 
to  lay  such  Fines  and  Forfeitures  upon  any  of  their  own 
Company,  for  the  Breach  of  any  such  Rules  and  Orders, 
as  they  shall  think  proper,  so  as  the  same  exceed  not 
Twelve  Shillings,  lawful  Money,  for  any  Offence.  And 
also  shall  have  full  Power  to  levy  the  said  Fines  and  For- 
feitures, they  shall  so  impose,  by  a  Warrant  of  Distress 
from  the  Captain  or  superior  Officer  of  the  said  Com- 
pany, for  the  Time  being,  directed  to  the  Clerk. 

"Fourthly,  That  all  those  that  shall  be  duly  inlisted 
in  the  said  Company,  so  long  as  they  shall  continue  there- 
in, shall  be  exempted  from  bearing  Arms,  or  doing  mili- 
tary Duty,  Watching  and  Warding  excepted,  in  the  sev- 
eral Companies  or  Trained  Bands,  in  whose  District 
they  respectively  livej  excepting  such  as  shall  at  any 
Time  be  Officers  in  any  of  the  said  Companies. 

"Fifthly,  That  the  commissioned  Officers  of  the  said 
Company,  from  Time  to  Time,  shall  be  of  the  Court- 
Martial,  and  Council  of  War,  in  the  Regiment  in  whose 
District  they  live. 

"Sixthly,  If  any  Officer,  or  Officers,  of  the  said  Com- 
pany shall  be  disapproved,  by  the  Governor  and  Council, 
or  shall  remove  out  of  the  said  Town  of  Newporty  or 
shall  be  taken  away  by  Death,  that  then,  in  either  of  those 
Cases,  the  Captain  of  the  said  Company,  or  the  superior 
Officer,  for  the  Time  being,  shall  call  the  said  Company 
together,  as  soon  as  conveniently  may  be,  and  choose 
another,  or  others,  in  the  Room  of  such  Officer  or  Officers, 
so  disapproved,  removed,  or  taken  away  by  Death,  in  the 
same  Manner  as  is  herein  before-described. 

"Seventhly,  And  for  further  Encouragement  of  the 
said  Company,  it  is  further  Granted  to  the  said  Company, 
that  the  Captain  of  the  said  Company  shall  be  of  the 


NEWPORT  LIGHT  INFANTRY 


Rank  of  a  Colonel,  the  First  Lieutenant  of  the  Rank  of 
a  Lieutenant-Colonel,  the  Second  Lieutenant  of  the 
Rank  of  a  Major,  and  the  Ensign  of  the  Rank  of  a 
Captain, 

"Eighthly,  That  the  said  Company,  in  the  Time 
of  an  Alarm  or  general  Review,  shall  be  under  the 
immediate  Direction  of  the  Captain-General  of  the 
Colony  j  and  shall  hold  the  Rank,  and  Station,  of  the 
First  Independent  Company,  in  the  County  of  Newport: 
And  that  the  Officers  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

"Which  aforegoing  Charter  was  Voted  to  be  accepted, 
and  to  pass  as  an  Act  of  this  Assembly:  And  it  is  Ordered, 
that  the  Secretary  draw  a  fair  Copy  of  the  said  Charter, 
sign  the  same,  affix  the  Colony  Seal  thereto,  record  it  in 
the  public  Records,  and  present  the  said  fair  Draught, 
signed  and  sealed  as  aforesaid,  to  the  said  Company."* 

On  the  same  day,  October  28,  1774,  when  this  act  was 
adopted,  the  following  were  approved  as  officers  for  the 
new  company:  Jabez  Champlin,  captain,  Caleb  Gardner, 
first  lieutenant,  Elisha  Lawton,  second  lieutenant  and 
Samuel  Spooner,  ensign."  Within  two  weeks,  however,  two 
of  these  resigned,  Caleb  Gardner  being  succeeded  by 
Charles  Spooner  on  November  2 1st,  and  on  Dec.  2d  Elisha 
Lawton's  position  being  filled  by  James  Tew,  jun.  The 
record  of  these  changes  sent  to  the  Governor  and  Council 
for  their  approval  was  witnessed  by  Benjamin  L.  Peckham, 
clerk  of  the  company.'' 

Many  of  the  New^port  people  supported  this  new 
organization,  one  of  the  most  active  being  the  Hon.  Henry 
Marchant,  Attorney-General  of  the  Colony.  On  Novem- 
ber 15,  1774,  the  latter  wrote  as  follow^s  to  John  Hancock 
in  Boston  concerning  the  possibility  of  securing  arms  and 
colors  for  the  new  chartered  command: 


^  Rhode  Island  Acts  and  Resohes,  October,  1  774,  pp.  93-97. 

^  Petitions  to  the  Rhode  Island  General  Assembly,  \o\.  1  5,  p.  115. 

"^  Petitions  to  the  Rhode  Island  General  Assembly,  \'ol.  1  5,  p.  119. 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

"Honored  Sir, 

The  publick  Light  you  so  honorably  stand  in  through- 
out at  least  our  American  World  will  bring  upon  you 
some  Inconveniences,  if  not  Impertinent  Applications. 
I  am  afraid  mine  will  be  Onej  but  I  make  it  to  oblige 
others  and  in  so  doing  to  oblige  myself. 

A  Military  Spirit  is  diffusing  itself  with  the  greatest 
Rapidity  thro'  every  Part  of  this  Colony.  Several  Com- 
panies are  formed  and  forming  in  this  Town.  I  am 
desired  by  one  of  those  Companies  to  enquire  at  Boston 
whether  Sixty  or  Seventy  neat  good  Arms  can  be  pur- 
chased there  and  at  what  Price.  It  is  desired  their 
Colours  should  be  made  of  the  neatest,  best  Silk  of  a 
blue  Ground  with  the  Union  at  One  Corner,  and  upon 
a  Square  in  the  Center  it  is  my  Idea  to  have  a  Female 
Figure  representing  the  Genius  of  America  Standing 
erect  with  a  Staff  in  her  Right  Hand  and  the  Cap  of 
Liberty  upon  the  Top  of  it.  In  her  left  Hand,  either 
the  Bible  or  America's  Bill  of  Rights,  and  under  her 
Feet,  Chains,  the  Badge  of  Slavery.  The  following 
Motto  in  some  proper  Place:  Patria  Cara,  Carior  Liber- 
tas.  And,  if  a  proper  Place  can  be  found,  to  have  the 
Colony  Arms,  being  no  more  than  a  plain  Anchor. 

What  is  desired  of  Mr.  Hancock  is  that  he  would 
inform  me  respecting  the  Fire  Arms  and  apply  to  Mr. 
Copely  to  know  what  he  would  undertake  to  furnish 
the  Silk  and  to  paint  Them  for  (the  Colours).  Mr. 
Hancock's  and  Mr.  Copely's  Advice  is  asked  as  to  the 
above  Design,  with  such  Alterations  and  Amendments 
therein  as  their  better  Taste  and  Judgement  shall  with 
Freedom  point  out.  And  this  is  desired,  tho'  Mr. 
Copely's  Terms  for  executing  Them  should  be  beyond 
what  the  Company  may  be  able  to  comply  with,  as  in 
that  Case  they  must  submit  to  an  Inferior  Hand  here. 
Mr.  Hancock  will  much  oblige  the  Company  here  and 
the  more  so  shall  I  be  obliged,  if  he  will  pardon  this 
Application  from  his  most  obedient  humble  Serv^ 

H-'  Marchant 


NEWPORT  LIGHT   INFANTRY 


To  the  Honorable 

J"°  Hancock,  Esq"" 
in  Boston'" 

No  action  resulting  from  this  request  has  yet  been  dis- 
covered. There  is  evidence  that  the  Light  Infantry  pos- 
sessed arms  by  the  first  of  April  1775,  but  it  is  not  certain 
that  these  were  purchased  in  Boston.  There  is  no  doubt, 
however,  that  it  would  have  been  impossible  for  Copley 
to  have  painted  the  colors,  as  he  had  left  for  London  in 
June,  1774.^  Unless  some  other  Boston  painter  was  en- 
gaged, they  were  probably  executed  in  Newport. 

There  may  have  been  some  delay  in  securing  either 
arms,  colors  or  uniforms,  for  the  first  public  appearance  of 
this  company  did  not  take  place  until  April  3,  1775.  On 
the  morning  of  that  day  there  was  a  general  muster  of  the 
four  companies  of  the  Newport  militia  consisting  of  about 
250  men.  As  the  Light  Lifantry  numbered  47,  there  were 
then  about  300  men  under  arms.''  At  ten  o'clock  they 
marched  to  the  house  of  Henry  Marchant  in  front  of  which 
the  battalion  was  formed.  Mr.  Marchant  then  appeared 
and  presented  Colonel  Champlin  with  a  suit  of  colors  for 
the  new  command.  This  "pair  of  colors"  consisted  of  the 
Newport  Light  Lifantry  flag  and  presumably  the  Union 
flag  then  called  the  "King's  Colours."  After  these  had 
been  handed  to  the  ensign  who  displayed  them  in  front  of 
the  chartered  company,  the  Attorney-General  made  the 
following  address: 

"Gentlemen  of  the  Newport  Light  Infantry 
FROM  a  sincere  desire  of  promoting  and  encouraging 
the  military  spirit  diffusing  itself  through  this  town,  colony, 
and  America,  I  here  present  you  the  colours  to  be  born  by 


'  From  a  copy  of  the  original  letter  that  was  forwarded  to  the  writer 
by  the  late  Miss  Susan  S.  Brayton,  author  of  the  mss.  biography  of 
Henry  Marchant. 

*  Amory,  M.  B.,  The  Domestic  and  Artistic  Life  oj  John  Singleton 
Copley,  p.  27. 

^  The  Literary  Diary  oj  Ezra  Stiles,  \o\.  I,  p.  5  30. 


8  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

your  Ensign  j  and  I  shall  esteem  myself  highly  honored  by 
your  acceptance  of  them. 

I  have  endeavored  to  throw  such  figures  and  devices 
into  them  as  may  lead  you  to  an  attention  to  the  great 
objects  which  ought  to  possess  the  mind  of  every  American 
soldier, — every  friend  to  his  country. 

By  the  female  figure,  you  have  AMERICA,  your  native 
country,  presented  to  your  view,  which  will  justly  demand 
your  protection  when  in  danger  —  by  the  CAP  of 
LIBERTY,  upon  the  staff,  which  she  holds  in  her  left 
hand,  and  points  at  with  her  right,  you  will  be  led  to  con- 
template the  importance  of  liberty,  civil  and  religious,  to 
man: — An  existence  without  liberty  cannot  be  wished  for 5 
every  other  possession,  nay,  our  country  itself,  would  loose 
every  enchantment,  deprived  of  her  all  enlivening  prin- 
ciple: therefore  adopt  the  motto  Patria  cara^  carior  Libert  as. 

The  BROKEN  CHAINS  and  SWORD,  under  her 
feet,  may  intimate  to  you  that  the  principles  of  true  liberty 
diffused  through  America  will  ever  prevail  over  violence 
and  oppression. 

Carrying  these  principles  into  practice,  the  ANCHOR, 
the  arms  of  our  colony,  placed  over  America,  will  lead  you 
to  a  well  grounded  HOPE,  that,  by  adding  thereto  unan- 
imity, wisdom,  firmness  and  virtue,  we  shall  succeed  in 
the  righteous  struggle,  and  secure  to  ourselves  and  poster- 
ity, the  invaluable  rights,  liberties,  privileges  and  happy 
constitution,  which  the  God  of  nature  hath  transmitted  to 
us,  through  our  pious  and  venerable  ancestors. 

Adopt  with  a  Christian  sincerity,  the  motto  placed  above 
the  anchor,  IN  GOD  WE  HOPE,— act  worthily  your 
part  for  God  and  your  country,  and  you  have  the  God  of 
your  fathers  with  you,  and  who  then  can  be  against  you.? 

Let  loyalty  to  your  King,  a  love  to  your  country  and  its 
laws,  a  zeal  for  liberty,  and  a  full  faith  and  confidence  in 
Heaven,  actuate  you  through  life,  so  will  you  gain  the 
love,  veneration  and  esteem  of  your  country,  and  the  world 
of  mankind  for  your  admirers. 


NEWPORT  LIGHT   INFANTRY 


Permit  me  to  say,  I  cannot  but  feel  myself  concerned 
and  interested  in  every  part  of  your  duty, — that  it  may  be 
discharged  to  the  public  acceptance,  and  thereby  to  your 
own  honor  and  approbation:  To  this  great  end  nothing  can 
more  contribute  than  an  entire  confidence  in,  and  high 
respect  for,  the  ofiicers  of  your  country: — And  I  am  sure 
those  gentlemen,  elected  by  yourselves,  cannot  fail  of 
affording  every  proof  of  the  wisdom  of  your  choice,  since 
they  will  meet,  in  return,  with  every  satisfaction  that  a 
generous  officer  can  wish,  from  a  company  of  gentlemen, 
delighting  in  military  order,  and  filled  with  the  noble 
sentiments  of  liberty,  honor  and  friendship.'"" 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  speech,  the  company  fired  a 
volley,  and  then  marched  up  on  the  hill  where  they  went 
through  the  manual  of  arms  and  other  exercises.  The 
Light  Infantry  must  have  put  on  a  brave  show  in  their 
new  uniforms  as,  with  colors  flying,  they  went  through 
their  manoeuvres  before  their  admiring  fellow-townsmen. 
In  describing  the  scene,  Ezra  Stiles  wrote  in  his  diary  that 
"The  Light  Infantry  made  a  fine  Appearance,  &  per- 
formed the  Exercise  and  Manoeuvres  with  a  Dexterity 
equal  to  any  Regulars.  They  gained  themselves  great 
Honor  .  .  ."^^  Such  an  event  as  their  first  public  appear- 
ance called  for  a  celebration,  and  so,  at  one  o'clock,  the 
entire  company  paraded  to  a  public  house  for  a  dinner. 
After  such  an  arduous  drill  it  is  not  surprising  that  the 
gentlemen  were  all  very  dry,  and  found  it  necessary  to 
slake  their  collective  thirst  with  seventeen  or  eighteen 
toasts.  The  first  of  these  was  to  the  King,  the  last  to 
America.  Among  the  others  there  was  one  in  honor  of 
Henry  Marchant,  "who  generously  presented  the  Newport 
Light  Infantry  with  their  colours."^' 

After  the  banquet  the  company  paraded  "in  very  regular 
order"  through  the  principal  streets  of  the  town  and  finally 

'"  Nezvfort  Mercury,  April  17,  1775. 

^^  The  Literary  Diary  oj  Ezra  Stiles,  Vol.  I,  p.  5  30. 

^-  Nezvfort  Mercury,  April  17,  1775. 


10  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

halted  upon  the  public  parade.  There,  fronting  the  Court 
House,  they  went  through  their  "firings"  midst  "universal 
approbation."^" 

Two  rather  interesting  observations  might  be  made  with 
regard  to  these  toasts.  In  the  first  place,  although  it  is  by 
now  common  knowledge  that  the  colonies  steadfastly  pro- 
claimed their  allegiance  to  the  King  while  constantly  quar- 
reling with  the  king's  ministers:  both  Marchant's  speech 
and  the  toast  to  the  King  give  further  evidence  of  this 
feeling  in  Rhode  Island.  This,  to  a  certain  extent,  amounted 
to  a  demand  for  a  position  similar  to  that  of  the  present 
Dominions — local  autonomy  while  joined  in  a  common 
loyalty  to  the  Crown. 

The  second  observation  refers  to  the  toast  offered  in 
honor  of  Henry  Marchant.  From  the  words  used  it  would 
seem  as  though  he  had  purchased  the  colors  himself,  and 
then  had  presented  them  to  the  company.  This  is  in  sharp 
contrast  to  the  contents  of  the  letter  to  John  Hancock  from 
which  it  would  appear  that  Marchant  was  merely  acting  as 
agent  for  the  command.  This  may  well  be  explained  by 
the  possibility  that  Marchant,  the  Attorney-General,  be- 
lieved it  necessary  for  the  Light  Infantry  to  have  proper 
distinctive  colors  even  though  its  funds  were  insufficient 
to  bear  the  cost. 

The  speech  which  Henry  Marchant  delivered  contains 
important  additional  material  with  regard  to  the  flags 
carried  by  the  different  chartered  commands  throughout 
the  colonies.  This  newly  discovered  data  adds  to  the  very 
meagre  material  available  concerning  colonial  military 
flags.  That  of  the  Newport  Light  Infantry,  however,  is 
the  only  one  certainly  known  to  have  been  carried  by  a 
New  England  chartered  foot  company  in  the  colonial 
period.  The  device  on  this  flag  is  very  similar  to  that  on 
the  cap  exhibited  at  the  Royal  United  Service  Institute 
at  Whitehall,  London.  See  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society 
Collections,  October,  1934,  and  Emblems  of  Rhode  Island, 
p.  29. 


13 


Ibid. 


NEWPORT  LIGHT  INFANTRY  11 

It  will  be  noted  that  there  are  several  changes  between 
the  flag  suggested  to  Hancock,  and  that  presented  to  the 
command  in  April  1775.  In  the  final  design  the  staff  sur- 
mounted by  the  liberty  cap  was  shifted  from  the  right  hand 
of  the  female  figure,  America,  to  her  left,  and  the  repre- 
sentation either  of  the  Bible  or  "America's  Bill  of  Rights" 
was  omitted.  Marchant  had  suggested  that  chains  be  placed 
beneath  the  feet  of  the  female  figure,  but  the  finished  flag- 
had  not  only  broken  chains,  in  that  position,  but  also  a 
sword.  The  "proper  Place"  that  was  asked  for  the  motto 
was  found  on  a  garter  which  surrounded  the  figure, 
America.  Beneath  this  the  name  of  the  organization  may 
have  been  inscribed  upon  a  scroll.  Above,  in  all  probability, 
was  to  be  found  the  anchor,  the  arms  of  the  colony,  sur- 
mounted by  the  motto  —  IN  GOD  WE  HOPE  —  and 
between  the  letters  G.R.,  for  the  insignia  on  the  flag  and 
that  on  the  company  cap  were  doubtless  the  same. 

Just  who  was  responsible  for  these  changes  in  the  design 
is  not  now  known.  It  may  have  been  Marchant  himself, 
Hancock,  the  ofiicers  of  the  command,  or  more  probably 
the  unknown  artist  who  painted  the  flag.  Actually  it  is 
immaterial  just  who  made  the  changes,  but  it  would  seem 
that  the  result  was  an  improvement  upon  the  first  sug- 
gestion. 

Both  designs  undoubtedly  carried  the  union  of  the 
crosses  of  St.  George  and  St.  Andrew  in  the  canton,  in 
accordance  with  the  British  military  usage  of  this  period. 
Finally  there  is  no  reason  to  believe  that  the  color  of  the 
field  was  shifted  from  the  blue  first  proposed  by  Marchant. 

Although  there  were  a  large  group  of  people  in  Newport 
in  sympathy  with  the  aims  of  the  new  organization,  some 
were  definitely  opposed  to  it.  A  representative  of  this  Tory 
or  loyalist  faction  pasted  the  following  notice  upon  one 
of  the  doors  of  the  Court  House  in  mid-December  1774: 

"To  the  military  gentlemen  who  are  now  forming 
themselves  in  companies,  seemingly  with  a  vain  design 
to  oppose  his  Majesty's  troops,  or  other  loyal  subjects: 


12  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Permit  me,  as  a  true  friend  to  Liberty,  to  advise  you, 
intrepid  Gentlemen,  to  desist  from  your  apparent  rebel- 
lious proceedings,  as  I'm  by  a  letter  from  Boston,  well- 
authenticated,  informed  that  the  Captain  of  the  man  of 
war,  stationed  here,  has  actually  orders  from  his  Excel- 
lency Gov.  Gage,  to  take  in  hold  all  such  persons  as 
shall  appear  under  arms,  to  acquire  the  manual  exercise 
(prompted  by  a  few  vicious,  designing,  men)  with  the 
simple  idea  of  intimidating,  or  repelling,  the  legal 
authority. 

Britons  strike  home,  &c. 

"N.  B.  Take  care,  Americans,  remember  the  Scotch 
deluge  in  45  and  46."'* 

The  military  companies,  not  at  all  abashed  by  the  above 
warning,  struck  back  vigorously  in  the  next  issue  of  the 
Ne'w-port  M.ercury  with  an  answer  which  read: 

"Whereas  an  infamous  piece  was  pasted  upon  one  of 
the  doors  of  the  Court-house,  in  this  town,  on  the  eve- 
ning of  the  14th  inst.  highly  reflecting  on  the  Military 
Companies  lately  formed  in  this  town:  a  copy  of  which 
was  published  in  the  Newport  Mercury  last  Monday  j 
whoever  will  discover  the  author  of  said  piece,  and  pro- 
duce sufiicient  proof  to  convict  him  of  having  wrote  the 
same,  shall  receive  TWENTY  DOLLARS  reward,  by 
applying  to  the  Captains  of  said  companies."'^ 

Although  the  above  notice  ran  in  three  issues  of  the  paper 
there  is  no  evidence  that  the  writer  was  ever  discovered. 

Of  the  later  history  of  this  chartered  command  little  is 
known.  At  their  April  meeting  in  1775,  Jabez  Champlin 
was  reelected  captain  and  Charles  Spooner,  first  lieutenant. 
Philip  Moss  now  succeeded  James  Tew  as  second  lieuten- 
ant, and  Sainuel  Spooner  was  made  ensign. '''    The  same 

^*  Nezvport  Mercury,  December  19,  1774. 
■'•''  Nezvfort  Mercury,  December  26,  1  774. 
^^  Rhode  Island  Acts  and  Resolves,  May,  1  775,  p.  4. 


NEWPORT  LIGHT  INFANTRY  13 

officers  were  reelected  in  May  1776,  and  then,  as  usual, 
were  approved  by  the  Governor  and  Council.'' 

It  is  fortunate  that  Ezra  Stiles  noted  in  his  diary  two 
of  the  activities  of  this  company  during  the  month  of  May 
1  775.  For  the  first  time  since  1663,  General  Election  Day 
was  held  in  Providence  and  not  in  Newport,  and  Stiles 
recorded  that  "The  Day  has  been  melanchoUy.  However 
the  Light  Infantry  above  40  of  them  appeared  in  their 
Uniform,  made  a  very  fine  Appearance,  &  marched  all 
over  the  Townj — "''*  This  might  be  taken  as  representing 
an  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  command  to  bolster  up  the 
morale  of  the  Newporters.  Later  in  the  month,  on  May 
25th,  when  "Cap*  Jn°  Topham  marched  with  Comp'""  of 
60  Men  completely  equipt  from  this  Town  for  the  Army 
at  Roxbury.  A  number  of  the  Light  Infantry  &  others 
armed  marched  out  with  them:  so  that  the  whole  Train 
consisted  of  about  100  armed  Men  .  .  .  This  Eveng.  at 
IX  o'clock  the  Light  Infantry  returned."*"  The  escort 
provided  by  the  latter  company  was  undoubtedly  to  make 
certain  the  safe  passage  of  the  Bristol  Ferry  by  the  men 
headed  for  Roxbury. 

The  command  was  undoubtedly  scattered  at  the  time 
of  the  occupation  of  Newport  by  the  British,  and  most  of 
the  company  was  probably  absorbed  into  the  armed  forces 
of  the  state.  As  examples  of  this  break-up  of  the  command, 
the  census  of  1777  records  that  Jabez  Champlin  of  Newport 
was  a  transient  in  Charlestown,  and  the  second  lieutenant, 
Philip  Moss,  was  now  listed  at  Warren,  as  a  transient  from 
Newport.  The  Newport  Light  Infantry  seemingly  never 
recovered  its  identity,  following  the  shock  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary years.  Although  the  charter  of  the  Newport 
Artillery  Company,  first  granted  in  1741,  was  revived  in 
1792,  and  that  of  the  Kentish  Guards  (  1774)  was  issued 
again  in  1797,  no  attempt  seems  to  have  been  made  to 
bring  back  to  life  the  Newport  Light  Infantry."" 


:  7 

18 


Rhode  Island  Acts  and  Resohes,  Mav,  1  776,  p.  48. 

The  Literary  Diary  of  Ezra  Stiles,  Vol.  I,  p.  544. 

The  Literary  Diary  of  Ezra  Stiles,  Vol.  I,  p.  562. 

Mss.  Report  on  Chartered  Commands,  1821,  State  Archives. 


14  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

A  Journal  of  My  Visits  to  Rhode  Island 
April  17,  1776 

By  W.  Rogers 

(continued  from  vol.  XXXII ,  p.  1 2S) 

Tuesday  ye  28th.  Took  Breakfast  at  ye  President's  be- 
tween 1 1  &  1 2  o'clock  Danl.  return'd  from  Newport  & 
Uncle  with  him — Din'd  at  Danls.,  after  Dinner — we  all 
met  at  Abby's  &  divided  ye  Bonds,  Money  &c.  Received  a 
Letter  from  Ezekl.  Robins  of  New  York.  Favd.  by  Mr. 
Cooper — Drank  Tea  at  Abby's — Uncle  Thurston  &  my- 
self took  a  Walk  to  Commode  Hopkins's.  Spent  ye  major 
Part  of  ye  Evening  &  Sup't  at  Abby's  afterwards  repair'd 
to  Cousin  Sweeting's  &  Lodged. 

Wednesday  ye  29th.  Breakfasted  at  Abby's — A.  M. 
Employed  in  Estate  Matters — Din'd  at  Nichs.  Brown's 
P.  M.  Uncle  Thurston  set  out  for  home — Put  one  of  my 
Trunks  on  board  Lyndsey  bound  to  New  York — Sup't  at 
Danls. — Lodged  at  Capt.  Sweeting's — 

Thursday  ye  30th.  Breakfasted  at  Danls. — At  7  o'clock 
AM.  I  Left  Providence  with  purpose  of  Returning  to 
Philada. — Danl.  so  kind  as  to  take  me  in  Chaise  in  Order 
to  carry  me  to  New  I^ondon  by  Land — Robt.  set  out  with 
us  for  Dr.  Babcocks.  We  all  din'd  at  Little  Rest  at  One 
Potter's  Tavern — Far'd  but  poorly — No  Oats  or  Hay  for 
our  horses — Roads  for  some  part  of  ye  Way  Past  Descrip- 
tion Bad — At  Sunset  Danl.  &  myself  got  to  Charlestown  & 
put  up  at  Mr.  Champlin's  a  very  good  Inn — Bobby  left 
us  expecting  to  Reach  ye  Doctor's  which  was  but  9  Miles 
Farther.  Charlest'n.  is  44  From  Providence.  Very  much 
Fatigued  tho'  ye  Expectation  of  once  more  Seeing  my 
Dear  Family  raised  in  my  Breast  pleasing  Sensations.  May 
ye  great  Jehovah  take  Special  Care  of  all  my  dear  Brothers 


A   JOURNAL   OF    MY   VISITS   TO    RHODE    ISLAND  15 

&  Sisters  whom  I  am  obliged  to  Leave — to  leave  as  I  never 
left  before  Fatherless  and  Motherless. 

Friday  ye  3 1st,  Arose  at  Day  Light — Left  Mr.  Champ- 
lin's  at  Sun  Rising — CalPd  on  ye  Road  to  see  Mr,  Ramsen 
and  Desire  Bliven — at  8  o'clock  reach'd  Dr.  Babcocks  where 
we  took  Breakfast  &  were  very  agreeably  entertain'd,  the 
Dr.'s  is  about  1 6  Miles  from  New  London  as  bad  Roads  as 
can  be  any  how  got  over  with  a  Carriage.  After  Breakfast 
Bobby  set  out  to  accompany  us.  Could  hardly  get  along, 
we  were  a  long  Time  reaching  a  Small  Distance,  At  % 
past  One  we  got  to  Mr.  Belton's  Tavern  in  Groton  &  Din'd. 
Mr.  Belton  not  at  home  but  She  was  exceedingly  glad  to 
See  us  owing  to  ye  Intimacy  wch  had  for  such  a  Length  of 
Time  subsisted  between  her  Son  Josey  &  myself,  She 
would'nt  take  anything  of  either  of  us  for  our  Dinners  & 
very  kindly  solicited  us  to  call  at  their  Home  at  any  Time 
&  make  entirely  Free.  Between  4  &  5  PM  we  got  to  Groton 
Ferry  where  ye  Horses  &  Chair  were  left  &  we  cross'd  over 
to  New  London.  Dan'l.,  Rob't  &  myself  walk'd  over  ye 
Town  a  little  &  at  about  6  oik  we  took  an  Affectionate  leave 
of  Each  Other  as  they  purposed  going  back  a  Few  Miles 
on  their  Way  to  Westerly.  Soon  after  this  met  with 
Messrs.  Binney  &  Drown  who  had  taken  Passage  on  board 
a  small  sloop  Capt.  Rice  bound  to  New  York — I  had  but 
just  Time  to  get  my  Trunk  on  board,  which  being  done 
we  came  to  sail  with  ye  Wind  at  S  W  right  ahead — We  beat 
about  5  Miles  &  came  to  Anchor,  Messrs.  Binney,  Drown  & 
myself  went  on  shore  &  procur'd  good  Supper  &  Lodging 
at  One  Mr.  Durfee's  a  public  House,  who  keeps  the  Rope 
Ferry — By  the  Time  I  got  to  this  Place  I  was  almost  ready 
to  give  over,  owing  to  the  Fatigue  of  the  Day. 

Saturday  June  ye  1  st.  This  Morning  Felt  considerably 
better — the  Wind  still  aHead  &  vastly  fresh  which  render'd 
it  Improvident  to  come  to  sail — Breakfasted,  Din'd  &  spent 
ye  whole  Day  at  Mr.  Durfee's — The  Family  being  exceed- 
ingly kind  &  my  Fellow  Passengers  so  very  friendly  it  ren- 
der'd the  Moments  less  tedious  than  they  would  have 


16  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Otherwise  been.  In  ye  Evening  the  Wind  rather  Increased 
SO  that  we  all  Retir'd  to  Rest  in  Expectation  of  a  good 
Night's  sleep  which  we  enjoyed.  To  put  my  Trust  in  God 
at  whose  Command  the  Winds  &  Seas  are  is  my  earnest 
Prayer — Capt.  Almy  of  Rhode  Island  having  in  ye  Fore- 
noon crossed  ye  Ferry  &  bound  to  Newp't.  I  set  down  & 
wrote  a  Letter  to  my  very  affectionate  Uncle  Thurston. 

Sunday  June  ye  2d.  A.  M.  the  Wind  continued  aHead 
— Received  an  Invitation  to  preach — accepted — Between 
1  &  2  ye  People  assembled.  In  Time  of  Sermon  the  Wind 
became  fair — As  soon  as  Sermon  was  over  and  we  had 
settled  with  our  Landlord  Mr.  Durfee  we  repair'd  to  sloop 
as  fast  as  possible  and  came  to  sail  at  ^  past  4  P.  M,  A 
most  excellent  Time!  Tide  with  us  till  12  o'clock — we 
pass'd  thro'  ye  Water  Rapidly!  The  Passengers  very  agree- 
able Company  Indeed — particularly  my  2  Friends  before 
mentioned  and  One  Mr.  Pool  of  New  London.  We  seem'd 
to  be  knit  together  in  Friendship's  Bond — Between  9  &  10 
I  threw  myself  on  a  Blanket  having  a  pair  of  Saddle  Bags 
for  a  Pillow  &  thus  pass'd  the  Night,  Sometimes  asleep, 
sometimes  dosing  but  the  major  part  thereof  awake. 

Monday  June  ye  3d.  This  Morning  at  Day  Light  we 
were  within  30  Miles  of  N  York — had  a  terrible  Time 
through  Hell  Gate — arrived  at  York  about  1 0  o'clock  AM. 
Call'd  upon  Mr,  Gano  &  left  a  Number  of  Letters  which 
he  undertook  to  deliver  &  forward.  Took  passage  in  ye 
Amboy  Stage  for  Philada.  at  One  o'clock,  having  eat 
neither  Breakfast  nor  Dinner.  Those  on  board  not  so 
agreeable  as  I  could  wish — Some  of  ye  Company  vastly 
prophane,  what  Evidences  may  One  Learn  from  Travell- 
ing of  the  total  Depravity  of  human  Nature.  Felt  much 
overcome  for  want  of  proper  Sleep  &  Refreshment.  Ar- 
riv'd  at  South  Amboy  between  5  &  6  P.  M.  Met  Mr.  Wm. 
Goddard  of  Baltimore  with  whom  I  had  considerable  Chat. 
In  the  Evening  partook  of  a  good  Supper  &  soon  after  went 
to  Bed  having  for  my  Bed  Fellow  Mr.  Leffingwell  of  Nor- 
wich in  Connecticut.   Slept  comfortably. 


A   JOURNAL   OF    MY   VISITS   TO    RHODE   ISLAND  17 

Tuesday  June  ye  4th,  Arose  extreme  early  and  took  my 
Seat  in  ye  Bordertown  Stage  Wagon — wch  was  well  filPd. 
Rode  14  Miles  &  Breakfasted  at  Williamson's  Tavern  — 
much  reviv'd  at  the  Prospect  of  so  soon  meeting  my  Dear 
Family — may  we  meet  in  health.  Got  to  Bordertown  at 
>4  past  2.  Din'd  at  Mr.  Hogland's.  At  6  PM  took  my 
Departure  in  Bordertown  Boat  For  Philada.  Very  little 
or  no  W^ind.  Sail'd  'till  Tide  came  against  us  which  was 
12  o'clock  at  Night  &  Anchor'd  12  or  13  Miles  from  the 
City.  As  I  had  now  no  Expectation  of  Reaching  home  'till 
Morning,  went  down  into  the  Hole  &  turned  in  upon  a 
Bag  of  Flax — making  a  Pillow  of  One  of  my  Arms.  Tho 
my  Birth  was  very  hard  yet  over  Fatigue  caused  sleep  in- 
stantly to  come  upon  me.  my  Situation  was  not  by  any 
means  pleasing  but  Resignation  is  my  Duty. 

Wednesday  June  5th.  Arose  at  5  o'clock.  A  little  Re- 
fresh'd  by  Sleep.  Came  to  sail  with  hardly  any  Wind,  went 
down  with  the  Tide.  At  8  o'clock  landed  at  Vine  Street 
Wharf,  Repair'd  with  hasty  steps  to  my  dear  Family  & 
found  them  well  with  my  other  Friends — And  now  may 
that  God  who  has  thus  protected  me  in  my  Travels,  Sup- 
ported me  under  one  of  ye  most  trying  of  Dispensations 
&  kept  my  Wife  &  Child  as  it  were  in  the  hollow  of  his 
hands  in  my  Absence  of  7  weeks  from  them  and  now  re- 
turn'd  me  to  them  in  Safety,  write  Laws  of  Gratitude  upon 
my  heart  &  never  Suffer  me  to  forget  his  Goodness  but 
ennable  me  to  live  to  his  Glory  all  ye  Days  I  have  to  Con- 
tinue on  Earth  &  finally  receive  me  &  mine  to  the  Realms 
of  Bliss  where  there  Shall  be  no  more  parting  but  every 
Tear  Shall  be  wip'd  away  &  all  shall  be  Joy  divine. 

Even  so — Lord  Jesus 
Rogers 

June  5, 1776 


18  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Early  Ship  Protests 

(continued  jrom  vol.  XXXII y  page  86) 

These  ship  protests  are  entered  in  the  second  volume 
of  Rhode  Island  Land  Evidences  which  are  in  the 

State  Archives. 


By  this  publick  Instrument  of  Protest  be  it  known  ,  .  . 
that  on  the  Eighteenth  of  Desembr  .  .  .  1702  .  .  .  Before 
mee  Weston  Clark  Notry  ...  in  Newport  on  Rhoad  Island 
...  &  in  the  presents  of  the  Wittnesses  After  named  Par- 
sonally  Appeared  Michael  Gill'"'  of  the  town  of  boston 
.  .  .marrr  &  now  master  of  the  Good  Briginteen  Called  the 
Joana  of  Boston  Doth  declare  .  .  .  that  .  .  .  (he)  did  .  .  . 
demand  of  &  from  Isaac  Napthaley""  marcht  now  Resi- 
dent in  .  .  .  Newport  on  the  day  of  the  Date  heare  of  nine 
hundred  Quentalls  of  dry  fish  bought  of  the  Sd  Napthaley 
by  Samll  phillips  of  Boston  &  Company  marchts  Owners 
of  the  Above  Sd  Briginteen  the  which  Sd  nine  hundred 
Quentll  of  fish  hee  posertively  Denies  nor  will  hee  deliver 
Any  or  Any  Account  of  the  Owners  .  .  .  the  Sd  Master 
not  knowing  what  Damage  is  Done  ...  by  the  withholding 
.  .  .  the  Sd  .  .  .  fish  doth  thare  fore  According  to  the  Usuall 
Custom  of  Marchts  &  marrrs  affaires  &  the  Laws  .  .  .  pro- 
vided Sollomly  .  .  .  protest  Against  the  Sd  Isaac  Napthaly 
for  .  .  .  Every  part  of  the  damage  done  ...  in  not  perform- 
ing ye  Agreement  as  Afore  Said  .  .  . 

The  day  And  year  Above  written  Michael  Gill  parsonally 
Appeared  before  mee  ...  &  made  Sollom  Oath  to  the  truth 
of  what  is  written  ...  in  the  Afore  premised  Instrument 
In  testamony  whare  of  I  have  heare  unto  Sett  my  hand 
And  Seall  Samll  Cranston  Govr  (II,  177) 

-^  Gill  served  as  a  privateersman  in  Queen  Anne's  War,  and  won  fame  in 
his  brilliant  and  successful  defense  of  Bonavista,  Newfoundland,  in  1704. 
See  "Privateer  Ships  and  Sailors"  p.  144. 

^^  Isaac  Napthaley  was  a  Jew.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman  of  New 
York  in  1705.    See  Pub.  Am.  Jew.  Hist.  Soc.  6,  101. 


EARLY  SHIP  PROTESTS  19 

Protest  noted  Sept.  6,  1705. 

.  .  .  Capt  Joseph  Rosbotham  Commander  of  the  Sloope 
Called  the  phenix  &  James  Whitthead  mate  ...  &  William 
Chub  marer  Sayled  from  this  harbor  of  newport  in  .  .  . 
Rhoad  Island  ...  On  Augt  the  10  day  Last  past  1705 
bound  to  the  Island  of  Barbados  Did  on  this  forth  day  of 
September  1705  .  .  .  Appeare  before  mee  .  .  .  did  protest 
Against  the  Sea  for  all  Damages  .  .  .  which  the  Above  Sd 
Sloope  phenex  her  passengers  &  Cargo  Shee  had  at  her 
Departure  hath  sustained  in  her  Above  Intended  voyage 
By  reason  that  About  1 2  Aclock  on  f ryday  night  being  the 
17th  day  of  Augt  ...  A  voyalant  Storme  Arose  the  Sd 
Sloope  then  being  .  .  .  neare  the  Lattitud  of  38  &  to  the 
Eastward  of  Block  Island  50  Leags  that  Sd  Storme  voya- 
lantly  Continuing  till  About  12  of  the  Clock  of  the  19th 
day  of  Augt  at  night  &  that  on  the  Sd  19th  day  About 
two  A  Clock  in  the  After  none  by  a  Stroake  of  the  Sea 
the  Sd  vessell  Over  sett  &  filled  with  water  her  horses^^ 
Awning  Cables  Round  hous  &  Som  part  of  her  Lading 
washed  Over  bord  During  the  Storme  And  Henry  pike- 
march  Robart  rose  &  John  Whealler  Chirurgin^''  &  James 
Blackwell  marrr  ware  all  of  them  Drowned 

Joseph  Rosbotham 
James  Whitthead 

the  mark  of  William  Chub 
Taken  upon  Oath  .  .  .  Before  mee 

Samll  Cranston  Govr  (II,  325) 


"-  hawsers 
■'^  surgeon 


New  Publications  of  Rhode  Island  Interest 

The  Jones  Pond  Shell  Heap,  by  John  C.  Brown,  an 
excavation  by  the  Narragansett  Archaeological  Society  of 
Rhode  Island,  is  an  illustrated  pamphlet  of  twenty-six 
pages. 


20 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


List  of  Active  Members  of  the  Rhode  Island 

Historical  Society 


DECEMBER    1939 


Mr.  Frederick  W.  Aldred 
Mr.  Edward  K.  Aldrich,  Jr. 
Miss  Lucy  T.  Aldrich 
Hon.  Richard  S.  Aldrich 
Mr.  Stuart  M.  Aldrich 
Mr.  Devere  Allen 
Mr.  Philip  Allen 
Miss  Ada  Almy 
Mrs.  Everard  Appleton 
Mr.  Arthur  H.  Armington 
Miss  Maude  E.  Armstrong 
Mrs.  Edward  E.  Arnold 
Mr.  Frederick  W.  Arnold 
Miss  Mittie  Arnold 
Mr.  James  H.  Arthur 
Mr.  bonald  S.  Babcock 
Mr.  J.  Earle  Bacon 
Mr.  Albert  A.  Baker 
Mrs.  Charles  K.  Baker 
Mr.  Harvey  A.  Baker 
Mrs.  Horton  Baker 
Mr.  J.  Willard  Baker 
Miss  Mary  H.  Balch 
Mrs.  Sarah  Minchin  Barker 
Miss  Sarah  Dyer  Barnes 
Mr.  Fred  H.  Barrows 
Mr.  Earl  G.  Batty 
Miss  Marjorie  L.  Bean 
Mrs.  Daniel  Beckwith 
Mr.  Henry  L.  P.  Beckwith 
Mr.  Frederic  N.  Beede 
Mr.  Herbert  G.  Beede 
Mrs.  Herbert  G.  Beede 
Mr.  Robert  J.  Beede 
Mr.  Horace  G.  Belcher 


Mr.  Charles  P.  Benns 
Mrs.  Charles  P.  Benns 
Mr.  Bruce  M.  Bigelow 
Mr.  George  E.  Bixby 
Capt.  William  P.  Blair 
Mr.  Zenas  W.  Bliss 
G.  Alder  Blumer,  M.D. 
Mr.  J.  J.  Bodell 
Mr.  Amos  M.  Bowen 
Mr.  Richard  LeB.  Bowen 
Rev.  Arthur  H.  Bradford 
Mr.  Claude  R.  Branch 
Rabbi  William  G.  Braude 
Miss  Alice  Brayton 
Dr.  R.  G.  Bressler 
Mr.  Carl  Bridenbaugh 
Miss  Ida  F.  Bridgham 
Mrs.  William  E.  Brigham 
Mrs.  Clarence  A.  Brouwer 
Mr.  Clarence  Irving  Brown 
Mr.  Cyrus  P.  Brown 
Mr.  Frank  Hail  Brown 
Mr.  John  Nicholas  Brown 
Madelaine  R.  Brown,  M.D. 
Mr.  Wilbur  D.  Brown 
Capt.  Ernest  Henry  Brownell 
Miss  Madeleine  M.  Bubier 
Mr.  Harris  H.  Bucklin 
Mr.  Edward  J.  C.  Bullock 
Mr.  Mortimer  L.  Burbank 
Mr.  Edwin  A.  Burlingame 
A.  T.  Butler,  Esq. 
Col.  G.  Edward  Buxton 
Mrs.  Edwin  A.  Cady 
Mr.  John  H.  Cady  ' 


T.I  ST  OF  MEMBERS 


21 


Mrs.  Charles  A.  Calder 

Mrs.  W.  R.  Callender 

Mrs.  Wallace  Campbell 

Mr.  Thomas  B.  Card 

Mrs.  George  W.  Carr 

Mrs.  Marion  P.  Carter 

Miss  Anna  H.  Chace 

Mr.  Malcolm  G.  Chace 

Mrs.  Everitte  S.  Chaffee 

Prof.  Robert  F.  Chambers 

Mr.  Arthur  D.  Champlin 

Mr.  George  B.  Champlin 

Miss  Anna  Chapin 

Charles  V.  Chapin,  M.D. 

Mrs.  Charles  V.  Chapin 

Mr.  Howard  M.  Chapin 

Mr.  Frederic  L.  Chase 

Mr.  Albert  W.  Claflin 

Mrs.  Edward  S.  Clark 

Prof.  Theodore  Collier 

Mrs.  Clarkson  A.  Collins,  Jr. 

Mr.  James  C.  Collins 

Mrs.'Charles  D.  Cook 

Mr.  Albert  B.  Coulters 

Prof.  Verner  W.  Crane 

Mr.  Frank  H.  Cranston 

Mr.  Harry  Parsons  Cross 

Frank  Anthony  Cummings,  M.D. 

Mrs.  Frank  Anthony  Cummings 

Mr.  Arthur  Cushing 

Prof.  S.  Foster  Damon 

Murray  S.  Danforth,  M.D. 

Mrs.  Murray  S.  Danforth 

Mr.  William  C.  Dart 

Mr.  Foster  B.  Davis 

Miss  Mary  Elliott  Davis 

Mrs.  R.  C.  Davis 

Prof.  Edmund  B.  Delabarre 

Mr.  Paul  C.  DeWolf 

Miss  Alice  S.  Dexter 

Miss  Eunice  W.  Dexter 

Mrs.  Lerov  E.  Dickinson 

Mr.  Walter  Frederick  Dickinson 

Miss  Louise  Diman 

John  E.  Donley,  M.D. 


Mr.  Louis  W.  Downes 

Mrs.  Louis  W.  Downes 

Mr.  Robert  T.  Downs 

Mrs.  Charles  E.  Dudley 

Miss  Dorothy  D.  Dunlop 

Mr.  Henrv  A.  DuVillard 

Miss  Margarethe  L.  Dwight 

Miss  Anna  Jones  Dyer 

Col.  H.  Anthony  Dyer 

Mr.  Charles  G.  Easton 

Mr.  Frederick  W.  Easton 

Mr.  Cyrus  T.  Eddy 

Miss  Isabel  Eddy 

Mrs.  William  Holden  Eddy 

Miss  Harriet  C.  Edmonds 

Mrs.  Seeber  Edwards 

Mr.  Walter  Angell  Edwards 

Mr.  Zenas  H.  Ellis 

Mr.  William  Ely 

Miss  Mabel  W.  Ennis 

Mr.  William  Wood  Estes 

Mrs.  William  Wood  Estes 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Farnham 

Mr.  Roval  Bailev  Farnum 

Mr.  Walter  F.  Farrell 

Mrs.  Charles  Fletcher 

Mr.  Elliot  Flint 

Mr.  Allan  Forbes 

Mr.  Hovey  T.  Freeman 

Hon.  G.  Frederick  Frost 

Mr.  R.  Clinton  Fuller 

Frank  T.  Fulton,  M.D. 

Mr.  William  Gammell 

Mr.  William  Gammell,  Jr. 

Miss  Abbie  P.  Gardner 

Mrs.  George  Warren  Gardner 

Mrs.  John  T.  Gardner 

Mr.  Preston  Hicks  Gardner 

Mr.  Daniel  F.  George 

Mrs.  Louis  C.  Gerry 

Hon.  Peter  G.  Gerry 

Mrs.  Peter  G.  Gerry 

Mr.  Robert  H.  L  Goddard 

Rabbi  Israel  M.  Goldman 

Mr.  George  T.  Gorton 


22 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


Mr.  Harry  Hale  Goss 

Mrs.  Richard  Rathborne  Graham 

Mr.  Eugene  S.  Graves 

Mrs.  Eugene  S.  Graves 

Miss  Eleanor  B.  Green 

Hon.  Theodore  Francis  Green 

Mr.  Denison  W.  Greene 

Mrs.  Joseph  Warren  Greene,  Jr. 

Mr.  Thomas  C.  Greene 

Mr.  Ralph  M.  Greenlaw 

Mr.  William  B.  Greenough 

Mr.  Russell  Grinnell 

Mr.  E.  Tudor  Gross 

Mr.  R.  F.  Haffenreffer 

Miss  Annette  Mason  Ham 

Mrs.  Livingston  Ham 

Mrs.  Albert  G.  Harkness 

Mr.  Benjamin  P.  Harris 

Mr.  Edwin  Harris 

Mrs.  Thomas  Harris 

Mr.  Everett  S.  Hartwell 

N.  Darrell  Harvey,  M.D. 

Mr.  William  A.  Hathaway 

Miss  Caroline  Hazard 

Mr,  Thomas  G.  Hazard,  Jr. 

Mrs.  W.  E.  Heathcote 

Mr.  Coles  Hegeman 

Mr.  Bernon  E.  Helme 

Mr.  Joseph  G.  Henshaw 

Mr.  Robert  W.  Herrick 

Mr.  G.  Burton  Hibbert 

Mr.  Charles  J.  Hill 

Mr.  William  A.  Hill 

Mr.  Frank  L.  Hinckley 

Mr.  Richard  A.  Hoffman 

Mrs.  William  H.  Hoffman 

Mrs.  John  S.  Holbrook 

Mr.  George  J.  Holden 

Mrs.  John  W.  Holton 

Mrs.  Albert  Horton 

Mr.  Charles  A.  Horton 

Mr.  M.  A.  DeWolfe  Howe 

Mr.  Wallis  E.  Howe 

Mrs.  William  Erwin  Hoy 

Mrs.  George  H.  Huddy,  Jr. 


Mr.  Sidney  D.  Humphrey 
Mr.  S.  Foster  Hunt 
Mr.  James  H.  Hyde 
Mrs.  C.  Oliver  Iselln 
Mr.  Norman  M.  Isham 
Miss  Mary  A.  Jack 
Mrs.  Donald  Eldredge  Jackson 
Mrs.  Edward  P.  Jastram 
Mr.  Thomas  A.  Jenckes 
Mrs.  Edward  L.  Johnson 
Mr.  William  C.  Johnson 
Mr.  Llewellyn  W.  Jones 
Dr.  Lewis  H.  Kalloch 
Mr.  Francis  B.  Keeney 
Mr.  Charles  A.  Keller 
Mr.  Howard  R.  Kent 
Mr.  H.  Earle  Kimball 
Lucius  C.  Kingman,  M.D. 
Miss  Adelaide  Knight 
Mr.  C.  Prescott  Knight,  Jr. 
Mr.  Robert  L.  Knight 
Mrs.  Robert  L.  Knight 
Mr.  Russell  W.  Knight 
Mrs.  Dana  Lawrence 
Miss  Grace  F.  Leonard 
Mrs.  Austin  T.  Levy 
Mr.  Dexter  L.  Lewis 
Mr.  Charles  Warren  Lippitt 
Mrs.  Frances  Pomeroy  Lippitt 
Mr.  Gorton  T.  Lippitt 
Mr.  Arthur  B.  Lisle 
Mrs.  Arthur  B.  Lisle 
Mr.  Charles  W.  Littlefield 
Mr.  Ivory  Littlefield 
Rev.  Augustus  M.  Lord 
Mr.  T.  Robley  Louttit 
Mr.  W.  Easton  Louttit,  Jr. 
Mr.  David  B.  Lovell,  Jr.' 
Mr.  Albert  E.  Lownes 
Mr.  Harold  C.  Lyman 
Mr.  Richard  E.  Lyman 
Mr.  George  R.  McAuslan 
Mr.  William  A.  McAuslan 
Mr.  Norman  A.  MacColl 
Mr.  William  B.  MacColl 


LIST  OF  MEMBERS 


23 


Mr.  Arthur  M.  McCrillis 
Miss  Grace  E.  Macdonald 
Mr.  Benjamin  M.  MacDougall 
Miss  Muriel  McFee 
Mr.  Charles  B.  Mackinney 
Mr.  Ralph  A.  McLeod 
Mrs.  Herbert  E.  Maine 
Mrs.  William  L.  Manchester 
Mr.  Charles  C.  Marshall 
Mr.  Edgar  W.  Martin 
Mrs.  John  F.  Marvel 
Mr.  Harold  Mason 
Mr.  John  H.  Mason 
Mr.  William  L.  Mauran 
Mrs.  William  L.  Mauran 
Mrs.  Frank  Everitt  Maxwell 
Mr.  Harry  V.  Mayo 
Mr.  W.  Granville  Meader 
Mrs.  Charles  H.  Merriman 
Mrs.  E.  Bruce  Merriman 
Mr.  Harold  T.  Merriman 
Mrs.  I.  B.  Merriman 
Mrs.  E.  T.  H.  Metcalf 
Mr.  G.  Pierce  Metcalf 
Mr.  Houghton  P.  Metcalf 
Mrs.  I.  Harris  Metcalf 
Hon.  Jesse  H.  Metcalf 
Mrs.  Jesse  H.  Metcalf 
Mr.  Stephen  O.  Metcalf 
Mr.  William  Davis  Miller 
Mrs.  William  Davis  Miller 
Mr.  George  L.  Miner 
Mr.  Marshall  Morgan 
Mr.  George  A.  Moriarty,  Jr. 
Mrs.  Bentley  W.  Morse 
Mr.  Jarvis  M.  Morse 
Mr.  Edward  S.  Moulton 
Mrs.  Edward  S.  Moulton 
William  M.  Muncy,  M.D. 
Hon.  Addison  P.  Munroe 
Mrs.  i'\ddison  P.  Munroe 
Mr.  Walter  M.  Murdie 
Mr.  Wilfred  C.  Murphy 
Mr.  George  P.  Newell 
Miss  Eliza  Taft  Newton 


Mr.  Roger  Hale  Newton 

Mr.  Paul  C.  Nicholson 

Mrs.  Raymond  M.  Nickerson 

Ira  Hart  Noyes,  M.D. 

Miss  Mary  Olcott 

Mrs.  Frank  F.  Olney 

Mr.  Harald  W.  Ostby 

Mr.  G.  Richmond  Parsons 

Mrs.  G.  Richmond  Parsons 

Miss  Mary  H.  Parsons 

Mr.  Frederick  S.  Peck 

Mrs.  Frederick  S.  Peck 

Mr.  Horace  M.  Peck 

Mr.  Stephen  I.  Peck 

Mr.  William  H.  Peck 

Mrs.  F.  H.  Peckham 

Mr.  Clarence  E.  Peirce 

Mr.  John  P.  B.  Peirce 

Mr.  Charles  M.  Perry 

Mr.  Howard  B.  Perry 

John  M.  Peters,  M.D. 

Mr.  Arthur  L.  Philbrick 

Mr.  Charles  H.  Philbrick 

Mr.  ^Alexander  Van  Cleve  Phillips 

Mr.  Arthur  S.  Phillips 

Mrs.  Frank  Nichols  Phillips 

Mr.  Thomas  L.  Pierce 

Mr.  Albert  H.Poland 

Prof.  Albert  K.  Potter 

Dr.  Arthur  M.  Potter 

Mrs.  Thomas  I.  Hare  Powel 

Miss  Ethelyn  Irene  Pray 

Mrs.  Howard  W.  Preston 

Mr.  Robert  Spencer  Preston 

Miss  Evelyn  M.  Purdy 

Helen  C.  Putnam,  M.D. 

Mr.  Patrick  H.  Quinn 

Mrs.  George  R.  Ramsbottom 

Mrs.  C.  K.  Rathbone 

Hon.  Elmer  J.  Rathbun 

Mrs.  Irving  E.  Raymond 

Mr.  Charles  C.  Remington 

Mr.  R.  Foster  Reynolds 

Mr.  Dana  Rice 

Mr.  Herbert  W.  Rice 


24 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


Mrs.  Herbert  W.  Rice 
Mr.  Henry  Isaac  Richmond 
Mrs.  Fred  Robinson 
Mr.  Robert  Rodman 
Mr.  William  Greene  Roelker 
Mr.  Kenneth  Shaw  Safe 
Mrs.  Harold  P.  Salisbury 
Mrs.  G.  Coburn  Sanctuary 
Mrs.  George  C.  Scott 
Mrs.  David  Sands  Seaman 
Mr.  Henry  M.  Sessions 
Miss  Ellen  D.  Sharpe 
Mr.  Henry  D.  Sharpe 
Eliot  A.  Shaw,  M.D. 
Mrs.  Frederick  E.  Shaw 
Mrs.  Philip  C.  Sheldon 
Mr.  Robert  F.  Shepard 
Mr.  Clarence  E.  Sherman 
Mr.  Harry  B.  Sherman 
Mrs.  Arthur  F.  Short 
Mrs.  Byron  N.  H.  Smith 
Mrs.  Charles  H.  Smith 
Mrs.  Edwin  C.  Smith 
Mr.  Howard  B.  Smith 
Hon.  Nathaniel  W.  Smith 
R.  Morton  Smith,  M.D. 
Mr.  Walter  B.  Smith 
Mr.  Ward  E.  Smith 
Miss  Hattie  O.  E.  Spaulding 
Hon.  Ernest  L.  Sprague 
Mrs.  James  G.  Staton 
Hon.  Charles  F.  Stearns 
Mr.  Thomas  E.  Steere 
Miss  Maud  Lyman  Stevens 
Mr.  Edward  Clinton  Stiness 
Mr.  Charles  C.  Stover 
Mrs.  Charles  C.  Stover 
Mr.  Charles  T.  Straight 
Mr.  Henry  A.  Street 
Mr.  Frank  H.  Swan 
Hon.  John  W.  Sweeney 
Dr.  Walter  I.  Sweet 
Mrs.  Walter  I.  Sweet 
Miss  Louisa  A.  Sweetland 


Mr.  Roval  C.  Taft 

Prof.  Will  S.  Taylor 

Mrs.  J.  P.  Thorndike 

Louisa  Paine  Tingley,  M.D. 

Mr.  F.  L.  Titsworth 

Mrs.  William  O.  Todd 

Mrs.  Anthony  M.  Tourtellot 

Mr.  William  J.  Tully 

Mr.  George  R.  L-rquhart 

Hon.  William  H.  Vanderbilt 

Mrs.  Helen  C.  \'ose 

Mrs.  Arthur  M.  Walker 

Mr.  A.  Tingley  Wall 

Mrs.  Maurice  K.  Washburn 

Mr.  Slater  Washburn 

Mr.  Frank  E.  Waterman 

Mrs.  Lewis  A.  Waterman 

Prof.  Arthur  E.  Watson 

Col.  Byron  S.  Watson 

Mr.  W.  L.  Watson 

Mrs.  William  B.  Weeden 

Mr.  Richard  Ward  Greene  Welling 

Mr.  John  H.  Wells 

Mr.  Philip  C.  Wentworth 

Mrs.  Philip  C.  Wentworth 

Mr.  Edward  H.  West 

Mrs.  Frank  Williams  Westcott 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  N.  White 

Mr.  Willis  H.  White 

Mrs.  Henry  A.  Whitmarsh 

Mr.  Frederick  Bernays  Wiener 

Mr.  Frank  J.  Wilder 

Mr.  Daniel  L.  Willmarth,  Jr. 

Miss  Amey  L.  Willson 

Mr.  William  A.  Wing 

Mr.  Wilson  G.  Wing 

Mrs.  George  P.  Winship 

Rev.  William  Worthington 

Mr.  Nathan  M.  Wright 

Mrs.  Sydney  L.  Wright,  Jr. 

Dr.  Henry  M.  Wriston 

Mr.  Lawrence  C.  Wroth 

Mr.  Frederick  W.  York 


Rhode    Island 

Historical     Society 

Collections 


Vol.  XXXIII 


APRIL,  1940 


No.  2 


.0> 


U-_9iVASi^ 


Yroin  original  hi  tJic  Society's  Aliisfuw 


Issued  Quarterly 


68  Waterman  Street,  Providence,  Rhode  Island 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Picture  of  schooner  Wando  Passo  .  .  .    Cover 


The  Beginnings  of  the  Rhode  Island  Train  Bands 

by  Robert  W.  Kenny   .  .  .  .  .  25 


Notes        ........         38 


Journal  of  my  Visit  to  the  Eastward 

by  W.  Rogers      ......  39 


Treasurer's  Report     ......  45 


RHODE 
HISTORICAL 


ISLAND 

SOCIETY 


COLLECTIONS 


Vol.  XXXIII 


APRIL,   1940 


No.  2 


Charles  F.  Stearns,  President 
William  Davis  Miller,  Secretary 


Robert  T.  Downs,  Treasurer 
Howard  M.  Chapin,  Librarian 


The  Society  assumes  no  responsibility  for  the  statements  or  the  opinions 
of  contributors. 


The  Beginnings  of  the  Rhode  Island 

Train  Bands 

By  Robert  W.  Kenny 

One  of  the  most  useful  institutions  brought  to  America 
by  English  colonists  in  the  seventeenth  century  was  the 
military  organization  of  citizen  soldiers  known  as  the  train 
bands  out  of  which  developed  the  American  militia.  Its 
primary  purpose  was  the  defense  of  the  new  colonies  from 
attacks  by  Indians,  although  it  was  sometimes  found  useful 
in  cases  of  civil  disorder.  Before  leaving  England  in  1629 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony  made  very  considerable 
preparations  for  defense  of  its  territory;  in  London  the 
Company  secured  the  services  of  two  professional  soldiers, 
Captains  Underbill  and  Patrick,  to  organize  the  train 
bands,  bought  a  considerable  amount  of  large  and  small 
ordnance,  and,  once  landed  in  Boston,  promptly  set  about 
training  "these  souldiers  of  Christ  Jesus — to  stand  it  out 
against  all  such  as  should  come  to  rob  them  of  their  privi- 
ledges,"  Fortifications  were  built  in  Boston  Harbor,  guns 
were  mounted,  and  efforts  were  made  to  manufacture  gun- 


26  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

powder.  By  1636  there  were  three  regiments  in  training 
under  the  command  of  a  Sergeant-Major  General,  who  in 
turn  was  closely  watched  by  the  General  Court. 

The  situation  was  very  different  in  Rhode  Island.  The 
settlers  who  came  with  Roger  Williams  to  Providence,  and 
those  who  later  etsablished  themselves  on  the  Island  were 
not  members  of  a  well  planned  colonial  enterprise,  but 
rather  refugees,  for  political  or  religious  reasons,  from  the 
neighboring  colonies.  Many  of  them,  at  variance  with 
accepted  Puritan  doctrine,  would  not  have  agreed  with 
Captain  Edward  Johnson  of  Woburn  who,  in  his  Wonder 
Working  Providence  of  Sions  Saviour  in  New  England 
urged  "that  with  all  diligence  you  encourage  every  Soul- 
dier-Spirit  among  you."  This  attitude,  which  was  generally 
accepted  in  the  Bay  Colony,  often  resulted,  as  in  the  Pequot 
war,  in  carrying  the  fight  to  the  Indians,  and  was  not  con- 
ducive to  the  understanding,  if  not  friendship,  towards  the 
natives  which  was  so  encouraged  in  Rhode  Island.  The 
Puritan  leaders  in  the  Bay  Colony  envisaged  a  strong  state 
in  the  wilderness  j  as  rapidly  as  possible  new  towns  were 
established  by  the  General  Court,  the  ultimate  source  of 
power,  and  train  bands  to  protect  these  establishments 
from  Indians  reprisals  were  speedily  organized.  In  Rhode 
Island  the  scheme  of  government  was  almost  the  reverse. 
The  towns  created  the  General  Assembly,  but  reserved  to 
themselves  far  more  power  than  did  the  towns  in  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  or  Plymouth  colonies.  One  of  these  powers 
locally  retained  was  control  over  the  train  bands,  and  the 
history  of  these  organizations  is  very  closely  connected  in 
the  seventeenth  century  with  the  history  of  the  towns. 
Efforts  were  made  at  various  times  to  achieve  an  effective 
central  organization,  but  ultimate  control  reverted  to  the 
towns. 

It  is  necessary  at  this  time  to  explain  the  exact  status  of 
the  train  bands.  Primarily  they  were  for  defense  in  time 
of  local  attack.  Normal  "watch  and  ward"  was  in  the 
iurisdiction  of  the  town  constable  "who  is  to  see  that  the 


RHODE  ISLAND  TRAIN   BANDS  27 

peace  be  keptj"  he,  or  certain  citizens  deputized  by  him, 
set  the  watches  and  gave  the  alarm  in  case  of  disorder.  In 
times  of  actual  or  impending  emergency  the  captain  of  the 
train  band  took  command  of  his  company  and  disposed 
it  as  he  thought  fit.  Only  if  a  town  were  directly  attacked 
did  the  band  fight  as  a  unit.  Expeditions  beyond  the  town 
limits  were  recruited  from  volunteers.  In  the  First  Dutch 
War,  for  example,  the  General  Assembly  on  May  18, 
1653,  called  for  twenty  volunteers  to  aid  in  checking  the 
Dutch  attack  upon  English  settlements  on  Long  Island. 
Portsmouth  and  Newport  felt  a  vital  interest  in  this  and 
seem  to  have  provided  all  the  men,  as  well  as  "two  great 
guns  and  what  murtherers  [small  naval  cannon]  are  with 
us."  Providence  and  Warwick  took  no  part  in  the  war 
at  all.  During  King  Philip's  War  there  were  an  unascer- 
tained number  of  unauthorized  volunteers  from  Rhode 
Island,  but  no  train  band  as  a  unit  took  part  in  the  fight- 
ing. The  train  bands  then  provided  more  or  less  efficient 
bodies  for  local  defense  and  served  as  training  centers 
from  which,  in  time  of  emergency,  certain  citizens  were 
drawn  for  service  outside  of  the  towns. 

The  records  indicate  that  Portsmouth  was  the  first 
community  to  take  active  -measures  to  defend  itself.  On 
the  13th  day  of  the  3rd  month  (May  13,  1638)  at  a 
"General  Meeting  upon  publicke  notice"  it  was  "ordered 
that  every  Inhabitant  of  this  island  shall  be  always 
provided  of  one  muskett,  one  pound  of  powder,  twenty 
bulletts  and  two  fademe  of  match,  with  Sword  and  rest 
and  Bandeliers,  all  completely  furnished."  At  a  similar 
nieeting  held  on  June  27  William  Balston  and  Edward 
Hutchinson  were  chosen  Sergeants,  Randall  Houlden  and 
Henry  Bull  corporals,  and  Samuel  Wilbore  clerk  of  the 
train  Band,  the  first  military  officers  to  be  chosen  in  "what 
was  to  be  the  colony  of  Rhode  Island.  At  a  General  Meet- 
ing on  the  5th  of  the  9th  month  it  was  "ordered  that  there 
shall  be  a  generall  day  of  Trayning  for  the  Exercise  of 
those  who  are  able  to  beare  armes  in  the  arte  of  military 


28  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

discipline,  and  all  that  are  of  sixteen  yeares  of  age,  and 
upwards  to  fifty,  shall  be  warned  thereunto."  One  week 
later  there  appears  to  have  been  held  the  first  muster  in 
Rhode  Island.  In  January,  1639,  three  Elders  were  elected 
to  assist  the  Judge  and  the  Clerk  in  the  management  of 
the  town's  affairs  which  included  "Invasions  forreine  and 
domestick,  as  also  the  determination  of  Military  disci- 
pline." This  group  anticipated  invasion  sufficiently  to  order 
that  when  the  alarm  of  three  shots  was  fired  all  were  to 
repair  to  the  house  of  the  Judge,  and  a  herald  was  to  go 
speedily  through  the  town  crying,  "Alarm,  Alarm." 

On  April  28,  1639,  nine  men  from  Portsmouth,  among 
whom  were  William  Coddington,  Judge,  and  the  three 
Elders,  Nicholas  Easton,  John  Coggeshall  and  William 
Brenton,  decided  to  establish  a  community  at  the  southern 
end  of  the  Island-Newport.  Seven  months  later  at  a  Gen- 
eral Meeting  in  that  town  they  organized  their  train  band, 
choosing  William  Foster  as  Clerk  and  ordering  him  to 
survey  the  arms  in  the  hands  of  the  settlers  and  report  all 
defects  at  the  next  court  but  one.  It  was  also  decided  that 
"the  Body  of  the  people,  viz:  the  Traine  Band  shall  have 
free  libertie  to  chuse  and  select  such  persons,  one  or  more 
from  among  themselves,  as  they  would  have  to  be  officers 
among  them."  Mr,  Robert  Jeffries  was  placed  in  temporary 
command  to  drill  the  train  band  for  the  "approbation  of 
the  Magistrates."  All  men  were  forbidden  to  go  outside  of 
the  town  without  either  a  gun  or  sword  under  penalty  of 
a  five  shilling  fine  for  each  offense.  The  balance  of  the 
military  legislation  of  Newport  as  an  independent  com- 
munity deals  with  the  efforts,  generally  unsuccessful,  to 
provide  every  train  band  member  with  adequate  equipment. 

Portsmouth  and  Newport  were  united  as  the  colony  on 
the  Island  of  Aquidneck  on  March  12,  1640j  in  May  the 
General  Court  merely  reenacted  the  Portsmouth  direc- 
tions about  alarms,  but  the  xA.ugust  meeting  produced  the 
first  comprehensive  military  legislation  in  the  colony.  Eight 
training  days  were  ordered  to  be  held  each  year  in  both 


RHODE  ISLAND  TRAIN   BANDS  29 

Portsmouth  and  Newport,  the  days  being  set  by  the  Cap- 
tahi  of  the  band.  In  addition  there  were  to  be  two  general 
musters,  one  in  each  town.  At  these  formations  all  men 
were  to  be  in  line  completely  equipped  at  the  second  beat 
of  the  drum  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Absence  was 
punished  by  a  tine  of  five  shillings.  Exemptions  were  made 
for  herdsmen  and  lightermen  whose  occupations  might 
prevent  their  appearance.  Farmers  in  outlying  farms  could 
leave  one  man  at  home  if  two  shillings  and  sixpence  were 
paid  to  the  Clerk  of  the  band.  Any  who  appeared  defective 
"in  his  armes  or  furniture  equivalent"  were  fined  twelve 
pence  by  the  Clerk  who  reported  the  delinquents  to  the 
Judge  and  Captain  of  the  company  who  would  determine 
the  validity  of  the  excuses  offered.  The  money  so  collected 
was  used  to  purchase  drums,  colors  and  halberds  for  the 
band.  The  question  of  equipping  these  citizen  soldiers  was 
a  vexatious  one;  many  of  the  men  had  no  money  to  pur- 
chase guns,  and,  when  the  money  was  at  hand,  it  was  not 
always  possible  to  obtain  the  desired  material.  This  seems 
the  purport  of  the  statement  that  "the  Clarke  of  each  Band 
shall  receive  the  monies  of  any  Man  to  provide  and  make 
supply  of  such  things  as  he  shall  stand  in  need  of;  during 
which  time,  after  the  delivery  of  such  said  money,  he  shall 
be  excused  for  his  defects  in  such  Armes;  but  if  the  money 
be  not  delivered,  then  to  be  liable  to  the  injunctions  herein 
contained." 

The  law  having  been  accepted,  the  General  Court  gave 
over  part  of  the  next  few  sessions  to  tinkering  with  it.  On 
September  6,  1641,  the  fine  of  two  shillings  six  pence  levied 
against  those  absent  from  training  was  abolished,  and  so 
also  were  the  two  general  musters  ordered  to  be  held 
annually  in  Portsmouth  and  Newport.  Regular  training 
days  were  set  for  the  first  Monday  of  each  month,  except 
in  the  months  of  May,  August,  January  and  February. 
Three  sessions  in  1641-42  were  necessary  before  a  satis- 
factory law  for  the  election  of  train  band  officers  was  agreed 
upon.  The  law  as  finally  written  ordered  that  the  personnel 


30  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

of  the  train  bands  could  elect  freemen  from  among  their 
number  for  officers,  this  election  subject  to  the  ratification 
of  all  the  freemen  of  the  town  at  the  Annual  Court  of 
Elections  j  officers  must  be  elected  out  of  their  own  bands  j 
they  could  not  be  residents  of  other  towns.  Further  it  was 
declared  "that  the  Townes  shall  order  the  power  of  the 
Officers  of  their  several  Bands  from  time  to  time,"  an 
unmistakable  indication  of  the  town's  supremacy  in  mili- 
tary affairs.  The  officers  to  be  chosen  by  election  were: 
captain,  lieutenant,  ensign,  and  junior  and  senior  sergeants. 
The  commanding  officer  could  appoint  only  corporals 
and  drummers.  There  was  slight  danger  of  building  up 
any  military  hierarchy  under  this  perhaps  too  democratic 
system. 

In  July  1644  Portsmouth  had  tried  to  obtain  powder 
and  shot  from  the  Bay  Colony  and  had  been  refused.  John 
Winthrop  explained  that  the  Court  was  adjourned  when 
the  request  was  made  and  that  the  deputies  were  in  no  mood 
to  aid  those  who  had  so  recently  left  the  colony. 

Certainly  it  was  an  error  |  he  wrote]  in  state  of 
policy  at  least  not  to  support  them,  for  though  they 
were  desperately  erroneous  and  in  such  distraction 
among  themselves  as  portended  their  ruin,  yet  if 
the  Indians  should  prevail  against  them,  it  would 
be  a  great  advantage  to  the  Indians,  and  danger  to 
the  whole  country  by  the  arms,  etc.,  that  would 
there  be  had,  and  by  the  loss  of  so  many  persons 
and  so  much  cattle  and  other  substance  belonging 
to  above  120  families.  Or,  if  they  should  be  forced 
to  seek  protection  from  the  Dutch,  who  would  be 
ready  to  accept  them,  it  would  be  a  great  inconven- 
ience to  all  the  English  to  have  so  considerable  a 
place  in  the  power  of  strangers  so  potent  as  they  are. 

Mistake  or  not,  the  shortage  of  ammunition  was  a  critical 
one  and  apparently  was  responsible  for  the  passage  of  the 
following  statute  in  May  1 647. 


RHODE  ISLAND  TRAIN   BANDS  31 

Forasmuch  as  we  are  cast  among  the  Archers, 
and  know  not  how  soon  we  may  be  deprived  of 
Powder  and  Shott,  without  which  our  guns  will 
advantage  us  nothing  j  to  the  end  also  that  we  may 
come  to  outshoot  these  natives  in  their  owne  bowj 
Be  it  enacted  that  that  Statute  touching  Archerie, 
shall  be  revived  and  propagated  throwout  the 
whole  Colonic  j  and  that  every  person  from  the  age 
of  seventeen  yeares,  to  the  age  of  seventy,  that  is 
not  lame,  debilitated  in  his  body,  or  otherwise  ex- 
empted by  the  Colonie,  shall  have  a  Bow  and  four 
arrowes  and  shall  use  and  exercise  shooting. 

Failure  to  comply  with  order  by  the  end  of  June  1 647 
would  entail  a  fine  of  three  shillings  and  four  pence.  Each 
town  was  to  erect  an  archery  butt  by  the  same  date  under 
a  ten  shilling  penalty.  No  record  of  town  archery  butts 
exists  j  doubtless  the  idea  never  got  beyond  the  stage  of 
legislation. 

The  military  legislation  of  the  next  decade  indicates  the 
dilemma  of  the  colonists.  On  the  one  hand  successful  hus- 
bandry demanded  all  of  a  man's  time  and  energy  j  on  the 
other  the  fear  of  Indian  attacks  indicated  that  the  train 
bands  be  maintained  in  a  reasonable  degree  of  efficiency. 
There  were  alternate  waves  of  concern  and  indifference. 
The  concern  was  displayed  by  the  General  Court,  later  the 
General  Assembly  j  the  indifference  by  the  individual  towns 
through  neglect  of  their  train  bands.  The  General  Court 
which  in  May  1 647  organized  the  colony  under  the  patent 
brought  from  England  by  Roger  Williams  restated  with 
some  additions  the  militia  law  of  1642.  The  towns  were 
ordered  to  hold  elections  for  train  band  officers  on  the  first 
Tuesday  after  each  1 2th  of  March,  and  a  fine  of  five  pounds 
was  levied  against  any  person  selling  or  giving  powder, 
shot,  lead,  gun,  pistol  or  sword,  dagger,  halberd  or  pike 
to  an  Indian  or  repairing  such  weapons  already  in  the 
hands  of  Indians.  If  legislation  could  insure  a  decently 
trained  citizen  soldiery  the  colony  should  have  been  ade- 


32  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

quately  defended,  but  there  seems  to  have  been  a  woeful 
lack  of  martial  spirit  in  the  towns. 

The  details  are  not  known,  but  the  action  of  the  General 
Court  in  May  1649  indicates  clearly  that  many  colonists 
had  refused  to  train  with  the  bands,  that  the  fines  of  the 
absentees  had  not  been  collected,  and  that  officers  chosen 
to  command  the  bands  had  refused  to  serve.  To  quicken 
military  affairs  civil  authorities  in  the  towns  were  ordered 
to  assist  in  collecting  fines,  and  captains  and  lieutenants 
were  penalized  five  pounds  and  fifty  shillings  respectively 
for  refusing  to  perform  their  duties  on  training  days.  This 
burst  of  military  zeal  was  of  short  duration,  for  the  fol- 
lowing year  the  Court  ordered  "that  each  town  shall  order 
its  own  militia,  any  clauses  or  laws  formerly  made  not- 
withstanding." Once  again  the  train  bands  were  removed 
from  beneficial  central  control  and  we  must  trace  their 
history  for  the  next  few  years  in  the  records  of  the  indi- 
vidual towns. 

Without  rehearsing  all  the  tedious  details  it  is  sufficient 
to  note  that  the  tendency  of  the  towns  was  to  decrease  the 
military  burden  as  much  as  possible.  Warwick  seems  to  have 
had  a  train  band  election  as  early  as  June  1649,  but  appar- 
ently it  was  necessary  to  start  afresh  in  1653  when  it  was 
ordered  that  "all  that  can  beare  armes  [will]  meet  on  the 
Comon  over  against  Thomas  Staffordes  to  chuse  military 
officers,  and  any  man  thats  absent  may  send  in  his  voate,  and 
the  time  to  be  about  eight  a  clocke  in  the  morning."  Too  few 
reported  to  warrant  an  election,  and  in  August  of  the  same 
year  it  was  ordered  "that  because  the  Towne  are  but  few 
in  number  that  they  choose  for  military  officers  only  a 
lieutenant  and  a  drummer,  and  these  to  be  chosen  the  first 
Second  day  in  the  next  month  September."  Other  notations, 
chiefly  of  military  elections,  occur  at  about  three  year  inter- 
vals. One  notice  of  a  training  day  concludes  "if  the  season 
hinder  not."  With  such  a  flexible  option  it  seems  unlikely 
that  many  fell  in  line  at  the  second  beat  of  the  drum. 
Providence,  like  Warwick,  used  the  town's  authority  over 


RHODE  ISLAND  TRAIN  BANDS  33 

the  train  bands  to  lighten  its  military  burden  j  in  Novem- 
ber 1654  the  fine  for  absence  from  drill  was  reduced  from 
five  shillings  to  two  and  six  pence,  and  on  the  following 
June  it  was  further  cut  to  a  flat  two  shillings  and  the  annual 
drills  fixed  at  four  instead  of  the  eight  ordered  by  the 
General  Court  in  May  of  1647.  There  was  still  some  fear 
of  Indian  attack  and  on  January  1655/56^  after  some 
debate  about  erecting  a  fort  "against  the  Barbarians,"  the 
town  meeting,  far  from  ordering  such  a  fort,  merely 
ordered  "that  libertie  is  given  to  so  many  as  please  to  erect 
a  fortification  upon  Stompers  Hill  or  about  their  owne 
houses."  The  Portsmouth  record  is  equally  scanty;  the 
notice  of  a  train  band  election  in  1650  and  a  notice  in  1655 
that  those  in  ofiice  would  continue  to  exercise  command 
"till  nue  were  chosen." 

The  casual  quality  of  the  training  seems  to  have  caused 
great  concern  to  the  General  Court,  which  on  March  10, 
1657/58  complained  of  the  neglect  of  the  militia  law  by 
the  various  towns,  and  ordered  that  the  act  of  1 647  which 
it  described  as  "very  full  and  to  good  purpose  for  the 
keeping  on  foot  the  said  military  exercise  .  .  .  continue  in 
full  force  throughout  the  whole  colony,  any  other  laws  or 
repeals  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding."  Making  a  virtue 
of  necessity  the  Court  in  the  following  November  ordered 
that  a  fine  of  two  shillings  instead  of  five  shillings  or  two 
and  six  pence  be  levied  for  absence  from  training,  thus 
making  legal  a  practice  of  the  towns  of  some  years. 

The  Royal  Charter  of  November  1663  which  author- 
ized the  Governor,  Deputy  Governor,  Assistants  and 
Assembly  "to  assemble,  exercise  in  arms,  martiall  array, 
and  putt  in  war-lyke  posture,  the  inhabitants  of  the  said 
collonie,  for  their  special  defence  and  safety"  does  not 
seem  to  have  effectively  quickened  the  martial  spirit  of  the 
colony,  for  the  General  Assembly  on  May  4,  1664,  noted 
with  regret  the  "great  neglect  and  deficiency  in  the  use  of 
the  military  exercise  in  most  towns  of  this  Colony."  The 
Assembly  then  ordered  that  train  band  elections  be  held 


34  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

annually  in  all  towns  on  the  last  Monday  in  May,  that  the 
elected  officers  give  sufficient  notice  of  drill,  and  that  the 
fines  for  neglect  be  collected.  This  legislation  appears  to 
have  been  ineffective,  and  on  May  13,  1665,  the  Assembly 
passed  still  another  training  law.  Drills  were  reduced  from 
eight  to  six  a  yearj  captains  were  fined  ten  pounds  for  not 
calling  an  election  of  train  band  officers  each  year.  Officers 
not  ordering  drills  were  fined  forty  shillings,  or  being 
elected  and  refusing  to  serve  were  fined  forty  shillings. 

"For  the  incorradgement  of  the  meaner  sort"  nine  shill- 
ings yearly  was  to  be  allowed  as  pay,  this  to  be  paid  by  the 
Clerk  or  treasurer  to  the  parent  or  master  of  such  as  pro- 
vided their  sons  or  servants  with  arms  and  ammunition. 
The  towns  were  to  raise  the  money  necessary  for  soldiers' 
pay  by  a  local  rate.  For  the  most  part  the  act  is  a  more 
careful  restating  of  the  law  of  the  previous  year.  In  effect 
the  nine  shillings  was  a  subsidy,  and  Rhode  Island  was  the 
first  colony  to  adopt  this  sensible  solution  for  the  supply  of 
military  equipment.  Lack  of  equipment  being  no  longer 
an  adequate  excuse  for  absence  from  training,  the  fine  was 
raised  to  three  shillings,  the  proceeds  therefrom  to  provide 
drums,  colors  and  halberds  for  the  local  companies.  The 
Assembly  in  the  following  year,  noting  the  inability  or 
refusal  of  train  band  officers  to  collect  fines,  empowered 
two  local  magistrates  to  assist  in  the  affair. 

The  second  Dutch  War  (1665-1667)  served  to  awaken 
the  colony  to  its  vulnerability  by  sea  and  land.  Newport, 
being  particularly  open  to  attack  by  water,  was  ordered  by 
the  Governor  and  Council  meeting  on  the  28  th  of  May  to 
take  a  precise  inventory  of  all  arms,  equipment  and  powder, 
to  repair  defective  guns,  and  to  mount  their  great  guns 
so  that  they  could  be  moved  from  place  to  place  for  the 
island's  defense.  The  General  Assembly  in  July  2,  1667, 
constituted  the  Captain  and  Lieutenant  of  each  train  band 
to  act  with  the  town  council  in  each  community  as  a  council 
of  defense,  a  troop  of  horse  was  authorized  and  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council  were  empowered  to  seize  horses  and 


RHODE  ISLAND  TRAIN  BANDS  35 

ships  of  all  sorts  necessary  for  defense,  to  erect  fortifica- 
tions, and  dispose  all  troops  and  great  artillery  as  they 
thought  best.  This  emergency  power  was  to  continue  until 
the  sitting  of  the  General  Assembly  in  October  and  "noe 
longer,"  but  at  this  session  it  was  extended  to  the  following 
meeting.  With  what  seems  extraordinary  celerity  the  troop 
of  horse,  an  organization  of  gentlemen  volunteers,  was 
raised,  with  Mr.  Peleg  Sanford  as  Captain  and  Mr.  John 
Almy  as  Lieutenant.  This  organization  was  to  drill  six 
times  a  year,  and  at  all  times  to  be  under  the  orders  of 
the  Governor  and  the  Council. 

The  records  for  the  next  few  years  are  very  meagre  j  the 
colony  undoubtedly  did  not  take  its  military  duties  very 
seriously  until  in  August  of  1671  there  were  rumors  of  an 
Indian  uprising,  when  "there  being  a  great  necessity  to  put 
the  Colony  in  a  posture  of  defence  att  this  time"  the  town 
Councils  and  Councils  of  War  were  ordered  to  meet  in 
Portsmouth  at  Mr.  George  Lawton's  dwelling  house  to 
consider  some  wayes  and  means  for  secureing  the  inhabi- 
tants and  their  estates  in  these  times  of  imminent  danger." 
It  was  also  ordered  that  twenty  horsemen,  ten  each  from 
Newport  and  Portsmouth,  were  to  attend  fully  armed  as 
a  protection  for  the  council.  This  was  probably  the  first 
real  duty  of  the  newly  organized  cavalry  and  seems  to 
have  about  it  a  bit  of  "swank."  The  usual  orders  about 
watches,  ammunition,  and  surveillance  of  Indians  were 
restated  and  the  Council  of  War  disbanded. 

The  outbreak  of  the  Third  Dutch  War,  signalized  in 
America  by  the  English  loss  of  New  York  on  July  30,  1 672, 
caused  more  serious  preparations  throughout  the  colony. 
A  pension  plan,  designed  "to  take  off  some  carefull,  feare- 
full  and  distractinge  thoughts"  of  the  colony's  soldiers, 
was  enacted  providing  for  care  of  the  injured  and  in  case 
of  the  soldier's  death,  his  dependents  j  it  further  allowed 
the  veteran  or  his  family  to  sue  the  colony  if  the  pension 
were  not  forthcoming,  a  contingency  which  was  antici- 
pated, "forasmuch  as  too  often  faithful  service  is  forgott 


36  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

and  the  slain  being  hurried  goe  to  the  land  of  forgitfull- 
ness."  It  was  at  this  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  on 
August  13,  1673,  that  the  exemption  from  military  service 
for  conscience  sake  was  allowed. 

The  Rhode  Island  train  bands  were  in  a  curious  position 
in  the  war  against  King  Philip.  Up  to  this  time  control  of 
the  local  companies  had  shuttled  back  and  forth  between 
the  General  Assembly  and  the  towns,  with  the  towns  in 
control  a  larger  part  of  the  time.  As  late  as  October  27, 
1675,  the  Assembly  referred  Captain  John  Cranston's  plan 
for  a  defense  against  "the  dangerous  hurries  with  the 
Indians"  to  the  Councils  of  War  of  the  separate  towns 
for  settlement,  thus  in  effect  rejecting  unified  action, 
although  on  April  1 1,  1676,  the  Assembly  reversed  itself 
and  selected  Cranston  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  militia 
with  the  rank  of  Major.  The  Assembly  on  March  13, 
1675/76  wrote  to  Providence  and  Warwick,  admitting  that 
the  colony's  military  establishment  was  unable  to  maintain 
garrisons  to  defend  "our  out  Plantations"  and  urging  them 
to  abandon  their  homes  and  take  refuge  on  the  island.  For 
the  most  part  this  advice  was  taken  j  some  remained,  among 
them  Roger  Williams,  who  although  seventy-seven  years 
old  was  commissioned  a  captain  in  command  of  the  thirty 
men  "that  stayed  and  went  not  away."  Providence  was 
burned  by  the  Indians  on  March  29  or  30,  1675/76,  but 
the  few  remaining  inhabitants  applied  for  a  garrison  and 
the  Assembly,  after  sending  the  usual  committee  of  inves- 
tigation on  June  30,  1676,  appointed  a  king's  garrison  of 
ten  men,  eight  to  be  paid  by  the  colony  and  two  by  the 
man  in  whose  house  the  men  were  billetted.  Arthur  Fenner 
was  put  in  command  of  this  unit  and  commissioned  a 
Captain.  Fenner's  commission  is  an  interesting  example  of 
the  duality  of  the  military  system^  it  authorized  him  to 
command  the  king's  garrison  and  all  other  private  garri- 
sons but  "not  eclipsinge  Capt'n  Williams  power  in  the 
exercise  of  the  Traine  Band  there  etc."  The  exemption 
from  military  service  for  conscience  sake  was  also  repealed 


RHODE  ISLAND  TRAIN   BANDS  37 

at  this  session,  but  after  the  death  of  Philip  in  August, 
1676,  the  Assembly  meeting  in  Newport  on  October  27 
again  allowed  this  exemption.  With  the  Indian  menace 
removed  the  Assembly  reduced  the  training  days  to  two 
a  year,  the  second  Monday  in  March  and  the  second 
Monday  in  September.  With  this  reduction  went  all 
semblance  of  an  efficient  military  establishment. 

If  training  days  did  not  provide  the  colony  with  a  first 
class  fighting  force,  they  offered  an  excellent  opportunity 
for  settling  much  civil  and  social  business. 

On  March  11,  1659,  the  General  Council  of  the 
Colony  ordered  that  the  proclamation  concerning  "His 
Highness,  Richard,  Lord  Protector,  be  published  in  the 
several  towns  on  the  Tuesday  following,  at  the  head  of  each 
trainband  and  in  the  presence  of  all  well-affected  people." 
Upon  the  receipt  of  the  Royal  Charter  in  1663  Benedict 
Arnold,  the  President  of  the  Colony,  sent  warrants  to  the 
captains  of  all  the  train  bands  to  attend  with  all  the  free- 
men "in  their  arms"  the  solemnizing  of  the  receipt  of  the 
charter.  Providence,  for  one,  did  not  obey  this  order,  for 
a  minute  in  the  town  meeting  of  November  18,  1663, 
orders  "that  concerning  the  warrant  which  came  from  the 
president  to  send  soldiers  .to  solemnize  the  receipt  of  the 
charter  that  a  letter  be  drawne  up  and  sent  to  the  Court  of 
Commissioners  to  Excuse  the  not  going."  The  towns  were 
very  slow  about  collecting  their  shares  towards  the  expenses 
of  the  colony's  agents  in  England  and  in  an  effort  to 
speed  up  the  collection  Roger  Williams  wrote  a  letter  to 
each  town.  In  Warwick  his  "pernissious"  letter  was  read 
before  the  military  company  at  the  general  training  on 
March  26,  1666.  Marriage  banns  were  commonly  read  at 
such  times.  Fines  were  collected  and  arms  and  equip- 
ment were  examined  and  deficiencies  penalized. 

Training  days  were  in  a  sense  fete  days.  The  Rhode 
Island  records  are  less  full  of  training  day  incidents  than 
those  of  the  Bay  Colony  but  conditions  could  not  have 
been  much  different.  In  addition  to  the  train  bands,  the 


38  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

towns  were  full  of  women  and  children  j  trade  was  brisk  j 
Indians  came  in  to  see  the  show  and  from  the  first  beat 
of  the  drum  until  the  last  delinquent  had  been  fined  there 
was  always  something  doing.  That  there  was  occasional 
disorder  is  shown  by  the  curious  and  not  too  clear  case 
noted  in  the  town  records  of  Providence  of  June  4,  1655, 
"wheas  there  hath  Bin  greate  debate  this  day  about 
Tho:01nie  Rob: Williams  Jon  ffield  Will  Harris  &  others 
concerning  ye  matter  of  a  tumult  and  disturbance  in  ye 
winter  under  a  pretence  of  woluntarie  training  it  was  at 
last  concluded  By  wote  that  for  ye  Colonies  sake  who  hat 
chosen  Tho:01nie  an  assistant  &  for  ye  public  union  & 
peace  sake  it  should  be  past  By  &  no  more  mentioned." 
This  may  very  well  have  been  a  case  of  what  Burns  called 
"social  noise."  These  are  the  usual  concomitants  of  citizen 
soldiers  who  regard  military  training  as  a  burden  which  is 
to  be  eased  by  whatever  distractions  are  at  hand.  Train- 
ing of  this  type  did  not,  of  course,  turn  out  finished  sol- 
diers, but  it  did  provide  the  Colony  with  a  semi-trained 
reserve  which  could  be  drawn  upon  in  cases  of  emergency. 


Notes 

The  following  persons  have  been  elected  to  membership 
in  the  Society: 

Mrs.  Francis  P.  Kent 

Mrs.  Charles  F.   Stearns 


MY  VISIT  TO  THE  EASTWARD  39 

Journal  of  My  Visit  to  the  Eastward 
Commencing  in  August,  1781 

By  W.  Rogers  ^ 

Thursday  August  9.  Took  leave  of  my  dear  Family  at 
8  o'clock  in  the  Morning.  The  good  Lord  preserve  them 
in  my  Absence!  Dined  at  Mr.  Vanhorn's  Southampton 
who  towards  Evening  was  so  obliging  as  to  accompany  me 
to  Newtown  where  we  tarryed  the  Night  at  Mr.  John 
Hart's. 

Friday  Augt.  10.  After  Breakfast  parted  with  Mr. 
Vanhorn  &  Crossed  the  Delaware  at  Jones's.  Rode  Down 
to  Trenton  on  Business.  Dined  with  Mr.  Abraham  Hunt 
Mercht.  &  in  the  Afternoon  proceeded  to  Hopewell.  Mr. 
Blackwell's  where  I  spent  the  Evening  &  Lodged. 

Saturday  Augt.  1 1 .  Breakfasted  at  Mr.  S.  Stout's — At 
Rocky  Hill  met  with  Capt.  Vananglen  &  Mr.  Graham 
(Two  of  my  old  Acquaintances)  The  latter  designing  for 
Midd''ebrooke  (  14  Miles  on  my  Way)  had  the  Pleasure 
of  his  Company  for  that  Distance  where — on  our  Arrival 
— we  Dined — After  Dinner  passed  thro'  Bound  Brook  & 
Quibble  Town  &  just  at  Dusk  got  to  the  Scot's  Plains  & 
put  up  at  Mr.  Miller's.  A  pleasant  Day  this  for  Trav- 
ellers! 

Sunday  Augt.  12.  Wet  Day.  Preached  A.M.  Rev.  Mr. 
Miller  P.M.  Service  being  over  refresh'd  myself  &  went 
to  Mr.  Stiles's  Connecticut  Farms. 

Monday  Augt.  13.  It  being  a  stormy  Morning  contin- 
ued at  Mr.  Stiles's — P.M.  Rode  with  Mr.  Hampton  to 
Elizabeth  Town  &  Returned  at  Dusk. 

Tuesday  Augt.    14.    Breakfasted  at   Mr.   Gursnman's 


1.  The  original  diary  is  in  the  possession  of  Senator  Theodore  Francis 
Green.  An  earlier  diarv  of  W.  Rogers  was  printed  in  the  October  1939 
issue  of  the  R.  I.  H.  S.  Collections,  p.  117,  with  a  note  in  regard  to 
W.  Rogers,  written  bv  Senator  Green. 


40  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Lyons  Farms — spent  some  Time  at  Mr.  M.  Ogden's 
Newark:  Crossed  the  Ferry  at  Second  River.  Passed 
thro'  Hackinsack,  Swedenburg  &  Clarker  to  Dobb's  Ferry 
North  River,  Refreshed  myself  at  Col:  Dayton's  Quar- 
ters and  then  Crossed — Saw  Col:  Olney  &  Invited  to  tarry 
with  him,  spent  the  Evening  with  Col:  L.  Butler  who 
with  Col:  Olney  were  extremely  obliging. 

Wednesday  Augt.  15.  Breakfasted  with  Col:  Olney — 
Visited  Headquarters.  Dined  at  the  Adjutant  General's. 
Forwarded  pr.  Express  a  Letter  to  Mrs.  Rogers  Inclosed 
in  One  to  Col:  Miles.  Spent  the  Evening  at  Genl.  Parson's 
in  Company  with  Messrs.  Hitchcock  Baldwin  &  Barlow 
3  Chaplains. 

Thursday  Augt.  16.  Breakfasted  with  Col:  Olney  & 
Introduc'd  to  the  Acquaintance  of  Major  Lyman  A.  D. 
Camp  to  Gen'l.  Heath  who  Invited  me  on  my  Return  to 
Tarry  at  his  Quarters.  After  Breakfast  got  ready  to  Renew 
my  Journey  &  Made  a  Halt  at  the  French  Encampment 
to  see  the  Manuvers  of  the  Barbonnois  Reg't.  which  af- 
forded the  highest  satisfaction.  Dined  at  Kingstreet  and 
obliged  on  Acct.  of  a  Banditti  who  Infest  the  Sound  Road 
between  Kingstreet  &  Stamford  by  the  Names  of  Cowboys 
&  Skinners  to  alter  my  Intended  Rout  &  strike  up  the 
Country  to  Bedford  from  thence  proceeded  thro'  a  Part 
of  Lower  Salem  and  having  fallen  into  Company  with  a 
Mr.  Keeler  of  Ridgefield  Parish  Invited  to  put  up  at  his 
House,  did  so  &  was  kindly  Entertain'd. 

Friday  Augt.  1 7.  Breakfasted  at  Mr.  Keeler's  &  then 
took  my  Departure.  Rode  thro'  Wilton  where  missing  my 
way  owing  to  the  blind  Directions  of  the  Inhabitants  got 
into  the  N.  East  Part  of  Norwalk  old  Town  &  Immedi- 
ately fell  into  the  main  Post  Road.  Dined  at  Fairfield 
which  with  Norwalk  were  burnt  by  the  Enemy  in  1779. 
P.M.  Moved  slowly  on  through  Stratfield  or  Poquonot, 
Stratford  and  Milford.  Between  Strattford  &  Milford 
crossed  a  Ferry.  At  9  o'clock  in  ye  Even,  arrived  at  New 
Haven  Exceedingly  fatigued  &  Lodged  at  Mr.  Helme's 


MY  VISIT  TO  THE  EASTWARD  41 

who  with   his  Lady  had  just  returned   from  a  visit  to 
Providence  etc. 

Saturday  Augt.  1  8.  Tarryed  at  New  Haven.  Dined  at  my 
Lodgings.  Drank  Tea  at  Dr.  Stile's  where  I  commenc'd 
an  Acquaintance  with  Mr.  Fitch  a  Tutor  in  College. 

Sunday  Augt.  19.  Preached  A.M.  in  College  Hall  for 
Presidt.  Miles.  Dined  at  Rev:  Mr.  Edward's  (son  of  the 
famous  Presidt.  Edwards  of  New  Jersey  College)  for 
whom  I  officiated  in  the  After  part  of  the  Day  to  a  very 
attentive  Audience.  Felt  much  Freedom  in  speaking  at 
Each  Place.  May  God  bless  his  Word!  Evening  very  Rainy. 

Monday  Augt.  20.  About  9oc'k.  left  New  Haven  & 
Crossed  the  Ferry  contiguous  to  the  Town — Dined  at  East 
Guildford — Just  before  Sunsett  Crossed  Saybrook  Ferry 
and  purposed  reaching  Mr.  Durfee's  at  Rope  Ferry  but 
the  Badness  of  the  Roads  added  to  the  Darkness  of  the 
Evening  obliged  me  to  put  up  at  a  House  kept  by  one 
Capt.  Lee  in  the  Parish  of  Lyme  3  1/2  Miles  Short  of  my 
Intended  Stage. 

Tuesday  Augt.  21.  Crossed  Rope  Ferry  &  Breakfasted 
at  Mr.  Durfee's  after  which  proceeded  on  to  N,  London 
where  making  no  Tarry  I  crossed  over  to  Groton  &  Stop'd 
at  Capt.  Belton's,  Rested  Till  after  Dinner  being  consid- 
erably unwell  with  a  Bad  Cold.  Entertained  very  Kindly! 
P.M.  Jogged  slowly  on  &  falling  accidentally  at  Ston- 
ington  in  Company  with  Mrs.  Tanner  &  Mrs.  Bennett  we 
alighted  at  Mr.  L  Rhodes's  and  Took  Tea!  Early  in  the 
Evening  Reached  Bro'r.  Daniel's  where  besides  his  own 
Family  I  had  also  the  Pleasure  of  meeting  with  Sisters 
Lydia  and  Sally — All  in  comfortable  Health! 

Wednesday  Augt.  22.  Spent  the  Afternoon  at  Doctr. 
Babcock's. 

Friday,  Augt.  24.  Dined  &  spent  the  Day  at  Dr.  Bab- 
cock's. 

Saturday  Augt.  25.  Went  to  Seventh  Day  Meeting  & 
Invited  to  preach,  Declined.  Heard  Revd.  Mr.  Burdick — 
P.M.  A  Preacher  by  ye  Name  of  Saunders  called  to  see 
me  to  Converse  upon  some  Religious  Points — Poor  Man! 


42  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

O  Lord,  when  shall  thy  People  be  Deliver'd  from  such 
Ignorant  Teachers? 

Sunday  Augt.  26.  At  3  o'clock  in  the  Afternoon  preached 
at  Hopkinton, 

Monday  Augt.  27.  Breakfasted  Early  &  then  in  Com- 
pany with  Dan'l  &  Capt.  Dorrance  sat  out  for  Bro'r. 
Robert's  in  Coventry.  Went  via  Volentown  &  Tarryed 
Dinner  at  Capt.  Dorrance's.  Just  at  Dusk  got  to  Robert's 
having  Rode  about  39  miles,  found  him  &  Family  with 
sister  Barker  well. 

Tuesday  Augt.  28.  After  Breakfast  Dan'l.  &  Myself 
proceeded  on  to  Providence,  arrived  about  1 1  o'clock. 
Dined  at  our  Brother  Johnny's.  Spent  the  Evening  & 
Lodged  at  B'r.  Josey's.  The  Families  of  Each  are  very 
prettily  settled!  Presidt.  Manning  with  us  in  the  bigger 
Part  of  the  Afternoon.  Deliver'd  him  the  Letter  from  our 
Church  and  urg'd  his  Complyance. 

Wednesday  Augt.  29.  Breakfasted  at  Mr.  Jos:  Brown's. 
Visited  Dr.  Eyres  &  Mr.  Hoell  in  North  Provid'e.  Dined 
with  Mr.  Manning  &  Dan'l.  at  Mr.  Nich's.  Brown's  where 
Towards  Even'g.  I  Enjoyed  considerable  Chat  with  a  Mr. 
Flint. 

Thursday.  Augt.  30.  Dined  at  Mr.  Carter's.  Forwarded 
Letters  via  Camp  to  Mrs.  Rogers  —  Mr.  Kelly  &  Col: 
Miles.  Met  at  Josey's  in  the  Evening  to  look  over  old 
Accounts  relative  to  ye  Estate. 

Friday  Augt.  31.  About  1/2  past  8  o'clock  left  Provi- 
dence, having  Daniel's  Horse  he  consenting  to  go  Down 
by  Water,  Crossed  Lower  Ferry  &  Rode  Via  Miles's 
Bridge,  Stopped  at  Mr.  Thompson's  who  being  out  I  did 
not  see.  Dined  at  Mr.  John  Childs's  in  Warren.  After 
Dinner  went  to  Capt.  Comer's  &  called  with  him  upon 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Troop  whose  Daughter  Mrs.  Sarah  Cogge- 
shall  lays  in  an  awfull  despairing  Condition — ^talked  and 
prayed  with  her — All  seemingly  to  no  Effect!  Heavy 
showers  successively  coming  on  detain'd  me  at  Capt. 
Comer's  Till  after  Tea.  Arrived  at  Bristol  Ferry  before 
sunsett  but  did  not  get  over  'till  after  Dark,  however  as 


MY  VISIT  TO  THE  EASTWARD  43 

the  Moon  began  to  give  Light  I  proceeded  forward  on  the 
West  Road  &  Lodged  at  Cousin  Rogers's  in  Middletown 
— who  with  my  other  Relations  were  very  glad  to  see  me. 

Saturday  Sept.  1.  Breakfasted  &  then  went  to  Dear 
Newport,  put  up  at  my  worthy  Uncle's,  his  Family  except- 
ing himself  in  usual  health.  P.M.  Preached  for  Mr.  Bliss. 
Drank  Tea  with  Uncle  Aunt  Mrs.  Manning  etc.  at  Mr. 
Willson's  whose  son  Rob't  has  lately  Dyed  in  the  West 
Indies. 

Sunday  Sept.  2.  Preached  both  Parts  of  the  Day  in 
Trinity  Church  for  Uncle  Thurston  to  attentive  Audi- 
tories, Felt  thro'  Mercy  great  Composure  &  much  Free- 
dom! —  This  being  Communion  Day  partook  with  my 
Brethren,  it  was  a  Comfortable  Season  Indeed!  Drank  Tea 
at  Mrs.  Anthony's  with  Mrs.  Manning,  Spent  the  Evening 
at  Home  somewhat  fatigued. 

Monday  Sept.  3.  Dined  at  Mr.  Hazard's.  P.M.  Rode 
with  Mrs,  Manning  to  Elder  Bliss's  where  with  Uncle  & 
Aunt  Thurston  we  tarryed  t'ill  near  Dusk.  This  Part  of 
the  Island  known  by  the  Name  of  Green  End  exceedingly 
alter'd. 

Tuesday  Sept.  4.  Mr.  S.  Anthony  was  so  obliging  as  to 
take  me  out  in  a  Chair  with  him.  Enjoyed  an  agreeable 
Forenoon  in  Viewing  the  Beaches,  Works  &c.  Dined  at 
Uncle's.  Drank  Tea  with  Mrs.  S.  Gardner.  At  Candle 
Light  a  Number  of  Blacks  met  at  Uncle's,  he  gave  them 
a  Word  of  Exhortation  and  I  concluded  with  Prayer. 

Wednesday  Sept.  5.  Wrote  to  Mrs.  Rogers  by  a  Mr. 
Livingston,  an  unexpected  Opportunity.  Intended  this 
Day  for  Providence  but  prevented  by  a  Head  Wind.  Spent 
ye  Afternoon  at  Mrs.  Fowler's — Met  with  Dr.  Kendall 
of  Phila. 

Thursday  Sept.  6.  At  9  o'clock  A.M.  took  Passage  on 
Board  Capt.  Tillinghast  for  Providence,  Mrs.  Manning  & 
other  Ladies  in  Company.  Head  Wind  till  One  o'clock 
when  a  Breeze  came  up  in  our  Favor.  Arrived  before  Tea 
Time.  Lodged  at  Brother  Josey's. 

Friday  Sept.  7  A.M.  Reed,  a  Letter  from  Mr.  Stillman 


44  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

pressing  me  to  visit  Boston.  Dined  at  Presidt.  Manning's. 
P.M.  Reed,  a  Letter  pr.  Post  from  my  good  Friend  Mr. 
Kelly  dated  19th  Aug't.  Informing  me  of  the  Situation 
&c.  of  my  Family.  Disagreeable  Tidings  this  Day  in  Town 
respecting  New  London.  Took  Tea  with  Dr.  Richmond 
&  Lodged  at  Johnny's. 

Saturday  Sept.  8.  Further  Accounts  arrived  respecting 
New  London  &  Groton.  Dined  at  Josey's. 

Sunday  Sept.  9.  Had  the  Pleasure  of  hearing  Mr.  Man- 
ning preach  A.M.  Officiated  for  him  P.M.  to  a  Crowded 
Auditory.  Put  a  Letter  in  ye  Post  office  for  Mr.  Kelly  in 
Answer  to  his  to  me. 

Monday  Sep:  10,  In  Company  with  Presidt.  Manning 
&  Bror.  Josey  set  out  after  Breakfast  for  South  Brimfield. 
Passed  thro'  Johnson  &  Gloucester  Rh:  Island  State.  Dined 
at  Mr.  John  Jones's  at  Killingley  Connecticut.  P.  M.  Rode 
thro'  a  Part  of  Pomfret  on  to  Woodstock  &  put  up  for  the 
Night  at  one  Mr.  Coles  whose  Wife  is  a  Member  of  Provi- 
dence Church.  Journey  to  Day  38  Miles. 

Tuesday  Sep :  11.  Breakfasted  Early  &  Rode  on  to 
Sturbridge  old  Town  Mass.  to  State  where  we  parted  with 
Josey.  Overtook  Several  Brethren  going  to  the  Associa- 
tion— Got  to  S.  Brimheld  abt.  12  o'clock,  distant  from 
Woodstock  22  Miles.  Course  from  Providence  N.W. 
Rainy  Afternoon.  Association  open'd  at  2  o'clock,  Serm'n. 
by  Mr.  Hunt  of  Middleburg  from  2.  Cor:  10.4.  After- 
wards Letters  from  the  Respective  Churches  &  other  Asso- 
ciations as  usual  were  Read.  Sermn.  at  Candle  Light  by 
myself.  Put  up  with  Messrs.  Manning,  Backus,  Parker, 
Gier  &c.  at  Mr.  Codding's,  the  Minister  of  South  Brim- 
field  Churche. 

Wednesday  Sep:  12.  The  whole  Day  exclusive  of  a 
Short  Interruption  taken  up  in  Business — Matters  of  great 
Importance  were  attended  to  and  the  highest  Unanimity 
prevail'd — Ser'mn.  in  the  Evening  by  Mr.  Backus  from 
8th  Ch:  Dent:  2.  Verse. 

To  be  concluded 


45 


Rhode  Island  Historical  Society 
Treasurer's  Report 

INCOME  ACCOUNT  FOR  THE  YEAR   1939 


Receipts 

Annual  Dues $  1 ,960.00 

Dividends  and  Interest  3,278.89 

Rental  of  Rooms 105.00 

State  Appropriation 1,375.00 

$6,718.89 

ExPHNDirURES 

Binding    $       24.83 

Books   138.70 

Electric  Light  and  Gas '. 67.48 

Lectures   72.96 

Expense    60.24 

Grounds  and  Building  3  5.50 

Newspaper   I  2.50 

Publications    ' 3  1  7.34 

Salaries  5,63  5.00 

Supplies    83.80 

Telephone    57.45 

Water  8.00 

Surplus  Income  Account 205.09 

$6,718.89 


46  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

STATEMENT  OF  CONDITION,  DECEMBER   31     1939 


Assets 
Grounds  and  Building $    25,000.00 

Investments: 

Bonds 

$5,000.   Bethlehem  Steel  Corp.  4>^s,  1960 $5,225.00 

3,000.   Commonwealth  Edison  Co.  3>4s,  1968  3,274.46 
3,000.   Consolidated  Gas  Co.  of  N.  Y.  3>4s, 

1946 3,131.25 

3,000.   ContinentalOilCo.  of  Del.  2^s,  1948  3,263.21 

4,000.   Dominion  of  Canada,  5s,  1952 4,003.91 

500.   New  York  Central   R.   R.   Co.    3>4s, 

1952 509.39 

3,000.   Pacific  Gas  &  Electric  Co.  3 ^s,  1961  .  3.338.21 

500.   Pennsylvania  Railroad  Co.  3)4s,  195  2  500.00 
1,000.   Pennsylvania    R.    R.    Co.    Deb.    4>4s, 

'l970 922.50 

2,000.   Phillips  Petroleum  Co.  3s,  1948 2,200.49 

1,000.   Potomac  Edison  Co.  4^^/61 1,092.82 

2,000.   U.  S.  Steel  Corp,  3>4s,  1948 2,115.49 

Stocks 

10  shs.  Allied  Chemical  &  Dye  Corp 1,732.15 

70  shs.  American  Telephone  &  Telegraph  Co.  6,591.72 

40  shs.  Bankers  Trust  Co.  of  N.  Y 2,61  5.00 

45  shs.  Blackstonc  Canal  Nat'l  Bank  &  Tr.  Co.  1,050.00 

40  shs.  Consolidated  Edison  Co.  Preferred  4,172.80 

I  0  shs.  E.  I.  duPont  de  Nemours  Co.  Common  1 ,489.25 

2  shs.  Guaranty  Trust  Co.  of  N.  Y 706.00 

20  shs.  International  Nickel  Co.  of  Can 1,064.48 

350  shs.  Providence  Gas  Co 5,755.68 

1  5  shs.  Providence  National  Bank  1,508.22 

45  shs.  Public  Service  Corp.  of  N.  J 4,317.63 

20  shs.  Standard  Oil  Co.  of  N.  J. .' 963.24 

10  shs.  Wcstinghouse  Electric  &"Mfg.  Co. 1,137.08 

Savings  Account 4,037.5  8 

66,717.56 

Cash  on  hand 2,979. 1 4 

$94,696.70 


TREASURER  S  REPORT  47 

Liabilities 

Equipment  Fund $    25,000.00 

Permanent  Endowment  Fund: 

Samuel  M.  Noyes  $12,000.00 

Henry  J.  Steere 1 0,000.00 

James  H.  Bugbee 6,000.00 

Charles  H.  Smith 5,000.00 

William  H.  Potter 3,000.00 

Charles  W.  Parsons  4,000.00 

Esek  A.  Jillson 2,000.00 

John  Wilson  Smith  1,000.00 

William  G.  Weld  1,000.00 

Charles  C.  Hoskins  1,000.00 

Charles  H.  Atwood  1 ,000.00 

Edwin  P.  Anthony  +,000.00 

John  F.  Street 1,000.00 

George  L.  Shepley 5,000.00 

Franklin  Lyceum  Memorial 734.52 

Sarah  P.  Blake 1 24.00 

56,858.52 

Publication  Fund: 

Robert  P.  Brown 2,000.00 

Ira  P.  Peck 1 ,000.00 

William  Gammell  , 1,000.00 

Albert  J.  Jones  1,000.00 

William  Ely  1,000.00 

Julia  Bullock  500.00 

Charles  H.  Smith  100.00 

6,600.00 

Life  Membership  5,600.00 

Book  Fund  3,0 1  2.4 1 

Reserve 800.11 

Revolving  Publication  Fund 268.45 

Surplus  Income  Account 713.77 


$98,853.26 
Profit  and  Loss 4,1  56.56 


$94,696.70 


48  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

PRINCIPAL  ACCOUNT  FOR  THE  YEAR   1939 


Receipts 

Continental  Can  $     832.60 

Wisconsin  Electric 4, 1 47.20 

61  Broadway 1 ,3  52.84 

Lehigh  Valley  Coal  14.37 

Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  1  34.24 

Providence  Nat'l  Corp 5.40 

Atchison  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe 1 ,787.46 

New  York  Central 95 3.89 

Penn.  Water  &  Power  1,034.25 

Central  Manufacturing  District 3,142.47 

Texas  Power  &  Light 1 ,038.00 

Minn.  Power  &  Light  4,1  57.43 

Western  Massachusetts 3,1  10.59 

Ohio  Power 2,040.00 

Penn.  Railroad  2,766.60 

Gulf  State  Utilities 1,060.00 

Bequest  of  Sarah  Blake 1  24.00 

Standard  Oil  of  N.  J 12.81 

Reserve  Fund  62.79 

Revolving  Publication  Fund  10.50 


$27,787.44 
Balance  January   1,   1939 2,561.28 


$30,348.72 


TREASURER  S  REPORT 


Payments 

Commonwealth  F.dison  $3,274.46 

Pacific  Gas 3,3  38.21 

U.  S.  Steel 2, 1  H  .49 

Continental  Oil 3,263.2 1 

Consolidated  Kdison  4,1  72.80 

Potomac  Edison 1,092.82 

Standard  Oil  of  N.  J 976.05 

Phillips  Petroleum 2,200.49 

Allied  Chemical  &  Dye  Co 1,732.15 

E'dupont  de  Nemours  Common 1 ,489.25 

International  Nickel  1 ,064.48 

Westinghouse  Electric  1,1  37.08 

Savings  Account  2,037.58 

Reserve  : 189.28 


$28,083.35 
Balance  December  31,  1939  2,265.37 


$30,348.72 


Respectfulh'  submitted. 


Robert  T.  Downs, 

Treasurer 


January  1940 


Form  of  Legacy 


"/  give  and  bequeath  to  the  R/iode  Island 

Historical  Society  tlic  sum  of       

dollars.''^ 


^ 


Roger  Williams  Press       M^HJ' 


E.  A.  Johnson  Co. 


PROVIDENCK 


Rhode    I 
Historical     Society 
Collections 


Vol.   XXXIII 


JULY,   1940 


No.   3 


TEAPOT,   BY   S.AUNDERS   PITM.AN,   PROVIDENCE,   R.   I.,   17o2-1804 

Museum  of  Art,  Rhode  Island  School  of  Design 


Issued  Quarterly 


68  Waterman  Street,  Providence,  Rhode  Island 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Teapot  by  Saunders  Pitman        .  .  .  .    C 


over 


Rhode  Island  Silversmiths 

by  Dorothy  Needham  Casey         ...  49 

Journal  of  My  Visit  to  the  Eastward 

by  W.  Rogers     ......  65 


RHODE       *^^       ISLAND 
HISTORICAL     ^^MmJ  SOCIETY 

COLLECTIONS 
Vol.  XXXIII  JULY,   1940  No.  3 

Charles  F.  Stearns,  President  Robert  T.  Downs,  Treasurer 

William  Davis  Miller,  Secretary  Howard  M.  Chapin,  Librarian 


The  Society  assumes  no  responsibility  for  the  statements  or  the  opinions 
of  contributors. 


Rhode  Island  Silversmiths 

Dorothy  Needham  Casey 

Rhode  Island,  although  territorially  the  smallest  state 
in  the  Union,  has  been  one  of  the  largest  in  its  contribution 
to  the  development  of  this  country.  According  to  history 
this  state  was  one  of  the  first  in  colonization  and  one  of  the 
most  persistent  in  its  struggles  as  an  English  Colony.  Later, 
determined  to  establish  independence,  it  declared  its  free- 
dom two  months  prior  to  the  other  colonies.  Active  in  the 
conflict  was  General  Nathanael  Greene,  second  to  none  but 
General  Washington  and  one  whom  we  proudly  claim  as  a 
native  son.  In  cultural  activities,  Rhode  Island  ranked 
among  the  foremost,  but  in  no  held  better  than  in  that  of 
art.  Gilbert  Stuart,  a  native  of  our  state,  is  acknowledged 
one  of  the  greatest  of  the  American  portrait  painters,  while 
Edward  Greene  Malbone,  also  a  Rhode  Islander,  gained 
fame  as  a  miniature  artist. 

Not  only  in  the  tine  arts  are  we  able  to  claim  distinction, 
but  in  the  applied  arts  as  well.  John  Goddard,  the  famous 
cabinetmaker  of  Newport,  is  the  craftsman  whom  every 
furniture  connoisseur  wishes  to  name  as  the  maker  of  his 


50  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

secretary  or  chest  of  drawers.  The  Newport  School  of 
cabinetmakers  including,  besides  Goddard,  Job  Townsend, 
the  father-in-law  of  Goddard,  and  John  Townsend,  to- 
gether with  other  members  of  these  families,  have  earned 
for  themselves  meritable  reputations. 

The  silversmiths  of  Newport  were  outstanding  in  their 
craft  and  were  the  veritable  founders  of  the  great  jewelry 
and  silver  industries  which  have  been  developed  to  such  an 
extent  in  Providence  during  the  last  century  and  a  half. 
Unfortunately  the  wealth  of  Newport  was  somewhat  dis- 
persed when  the  British  seized  the  city  and  occupied  it  for 
about  three  years  during  the  American  Revolution.  Some 
of  the  Yankees  retreated  to  Providence,  while  others  fled 
to  neighboring  states.  With  the  exodus  of  the  Newport 
patriots,  opportunities  arose  for  the  founding  of  industries 
in  Providence,  where  some  of  them  settled. 

The  English  Colonies  encouraged  trade  with  the  West 
Indies,  and  as  a  consequence,  much  Spanish  coin  was 
brought  to  New  England.  With  no  banks  to  insure  the 
security  of  their  money,  many  people,  fearful  of  having  it 
stolen,  took  the  coins  to  silversmiths  and  had  them  made 
into  pieces  of  hollowware.  These  pieces  could,  of  course, 
be  much  more  easily  identified  than  coins  and  flatware,  and 
thus  loss  by  theft  was  less  likely. 

Some  of  our  early  silver  was  presented  to  churches  for 
use  in  communion  services,  and  as  a  result,  many  of  our 
Rhode  Island  churches  are  extremely  rich  in  this  early  craft. 

While  many  pieces  have  been  carefully  preserved  as 
family  heirlooms,  teasets  and  other  matching  pieces  have 
been  unfortunately  separated  for  distribution  among  heirs. 
This  mistake  has  often  been  made,  and  much  interest  as 
well  as  monetary  value  has  been  lost  because  of  a  reluctance 
to  give  up  what  one  had  a  legal  right  to  claim. 

Those  who  wished  to  be  fashionable  in  the  style  of  their 
silver  had  their  old  pieces  melted  and  remodeled  in  the 
fashion  of  the  day  by  contemporary  silversmiths.  In  some 
instances  the  original  pieces  were  not  completely  destroyed. 


RHODE   ISLAND   SILVERSMITHS 


51 


but  were  converted  from  tankards  to  water  pitchers  or 
coffeepots  by  the  addition  of  lips.  Each  period  sponsored 
a  style  of  its  own  and  while  all  do  not  equal  in  beauty,  it  is 
far  better  to  accept  the  styles  as  they  are  than  to  interrupt 
the  development  of  the  pieces  with  alterations. 

Rhode  Island  was  most  fortunate  to  have  outstanding 
silversmiths  in  both  Newport  and  Kingston  during  the  late 
seventeenth  and  early  eighteenth  centuries.  With  more 
wealth  in  Newport  during  this  period  than  in  New  York, 
the  early  craftsmen  prospered,  and  fortunately  many  of 
their  examples  have  survived  to  our  day. 

Arnold  Collins  was  one  of  the  most  noteworthy  of  the 
early  Rhode  Island  silversmiths  and  in  1 690,  made  the  seal, 
"Anchor  and  Hope,"  for  the  state  emblem.  A  fine  example 


TANKARD,  BY  ARNOLD  COLLINS,  NEWPORT,  R.  L, 
WORKED   1690  — DIED   1735 
Museum  of  Art,  Rhode  Island  School  of  Design 


52  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

of  his  work  is  a  flat-topped  tankard  with  a  body  tapering 
toward  the  base.  Near  the  molding  at  the  base  is  a  band  of 
inverted  heart-shaped  devices  in  cut-card  work.  This  type 
of  decoration  more  closely  resembles  that  made  in  New 
York.  Inserted  in  the  lid  is  a  French  ecu  bearing  a  portrait 
of  Louis  XV,  King  of  France  and  Navarre.  The  tip  for  the 
hollow,  S-shaped  handle  is  decorated  with  a  crest  and  the 
Latin  and  Gaelic  inscriptions,  Through  d'ifficulty.  The 
maker's  mark,  the  only  guarantee  that  the  silver  was  of 
good  quality,  was  formed  of  Collins'  initials,  AC,  within  a 
rectangle.  In  England,  it  has  been  obligatory  for  centuries 
to  impress  silver  with  a  government  assay,  date  letter  and 
city  mark.  By  these  marks,  the  owners  have  been  assured  of 
sterling  quality.  Frequently  the  silversmiths  added  their 
own  initials.  Here,  in  America,  there  was  no  legal  standard 
and  although  the  silver  preserved  to  us  presents  an  appear- 
ance of  high  quality,  it  may  vary  somewhat.  However, 
analyses  have  proved  that  our  early  silversmiths  must  have 
been  men  of  integrity. 

Probably  the  leading  early  Rhode  Island  silversmiths 
was  another  Newport  craftsman,  Samuel  Vernon.  He  was 
born  there  in  1683  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Ann  (Dyer) 
Vernon  and  the  great-grandson  of  Ann  Hutchinson.  She 
and  her  husband,  William,  migrated  to  Massachusetts  Bay 
Colony  in  1 634.  With  others  of  her  belief,  she  was  banished 
from  the  colony  and  settled  in  Rhode  Island  in  1 638.  Later 
she  was  massacred  in  New  York  by  the  Indians.  Her  great- 
ness was  undoubtedly  perpetuated  in  the  success  of  several 
of  her  descendants  who  became  silversmiths.  Among  them 
were  possibly  the  greatest  American  silversmiths,  Edward 
Winslow  of  Boston,  and  John  Coddington  of  Newport,  as 
well  as  Samuel  Vernon. 

Perhaps  the  work  of  Vernon  is  the  most  eagerly  sought 
Rhode  Island  silver,  and  many  fine  examples  of  his  hollow- 
ware  prove  his  skill  in  this  held.  The  pieces  vary  from 
tankards,  beakers,  patens  and  porringers  to  interesting  flat- 
ware. A  fork  with  two  tines  and  bearing  his  mark  is  a  great 


RHODE   ISLAND   SILVERSMITHS 


53 


rarity  which  has  recently  been  purchased  by  the  Museum  of 
Art,  Rhode  Island  School  of  Design, 

Vernon  was  also  well-known  for  his  assistance  in  helping 
to  decide  the  boundary  line  between  Massachusetts  and 
New  Hampshire  in  1  737.  He  belonged  to  a  family  skilled 
in  designing  and  making  silver,  Edward  Winslow  being  his 


PORRINGER    AND    SPOON,    BY    SAMUEL    VERNON, 
NEWPORT,  R.  I.,  1683-1737 

Museum  of  Art,  Rhode  Island  School  of  Design 


54 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


second  cousin.  The  mark  of  the  latter  bears  the  fleur-de-lis 
as  does  that  of  Vernon,  S\\  with  this  floral  motif,  appears 
sometimes  within  a  rectangle,  but  more  frequently  within 
a  heart-shaped  device. 

John  Coddington,  whose  family  records  appeared  in 
England  in  1200,  was  born  in  Newport  in  1690,  the  son  of 
Nathaniel  and  Susanna  ( Hutchinson )  Coddington.  Not 
only  was  he,  also,  the  great-grandson  of  Ann  Hutchinson, 
but  was  the  grandson  of  William  Coddington,  the  first 
governor  of  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Island.  With  such  an 
ancestry,  it  is  not  unnatural  that  he  left  a  fine  record  as  a 
statesman  and  silversmith.  As  a  Member  of  the  House  of 
Deputies  seven  times  between  the  years  1721  and  1729,  a 
Clerk  of  the  Assembly  in  1723,  1727  and  1728,  a  Protho- 


CUP,  BY  JOHN   CODDINGTON,   NEWPORT,  R.   I.,    1690-1743 
Mtiseuin  of  Art,  Rhode  Island  School  of  Design 


RHODE   ISLAND   SILVERSMITHS  55 

notary,  or  chief  notary,  in  1727  and  three  times  a  Sheriff 
between  1733  and  1735,  we  wonder  that  he  had  any  time 
to  devote  to  his  craft.  In  1  726  he  was  also  a  Colonel  of  the 
Militia. 

Many  pieces  of  his  silver  have  been  preserved  to  us  and 
in  the  Museum  of  Art,  Rhode  Island  School  of  Design, 
there  are  two  fine  pieces  of  hollowware,  one  a  tankard  with 
stepped  and  domed  lid,  and  the  other  a  cup  with  the  lower 
section  of  the  jug-shaped  body  embellished  with  gadroon- 
ing.  The  handle  is  of  the  S-shaped  strap  type.  The  maker's 
mark,  IC  within  an  emblem  resembling  a  fruit,  is  inipressed 
on  both  of  these  pieces.  Coddington  died  in  1743  at  fifty- 
three  years  of  age. 

Very  few  Providence  silversmiths  worked  here  in  the 
middle  of  the  eighteenth  century.  A  craftsman  about  whose 
life  very  little  is  known  was  Joshua  Doane,  who  died  in 
1753.  A  fine  tankard  by  him  of  the  plain  type  with  the  body 
flaring  toward  the  base  and  interrupted  by  a  mid-band  may 
be  seen  in  the  Mabel  Brady  Garvan  Collection,  Museum  of 
Fine  Arts,  Yale  University.  It  has  the  stepped  and  domed 
lid  surmounted  by  a  finial,  while  the  S-shaped  handle 
terminates  in  a  mask  tip. 

It  is  most  interesting  to  know  that  not  only  did  our 
American  silversmiths  work  in  silver,  but  occasionally  in 
gold.  Jonathan  Clarke,  who  worked  in  Newport  in  1  734, 
made  a  small  gold  buckle  for  use  on  a  suspender.  Although 
so  small  as  to  be  scarcely  adequate  to  bear  the  maker's  mark, 
IC  within  a  rectangle,  it  is  legibly  impressed  twice  with  the 
mark  on  the  back.  It  is  the  property  of  Mr.  Joseph  Cushing 
of  Providence  and  was  lent  by  him  to  the  Museum  of  Art, 
Rhode  Island  School  of  Design  for  its  Rhode  Island  Art 
Treasures  Exhibition  held  during  the  past  winter.  Marked 
gold  is  very  rare,  and  we  seldom  see  these  unusual  pieces. 

Another  silversmith  of  whom  little  is  known  worked  in 
Newport  during  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century.  He 
was  Daniel  Russell.  Whenever  his  name  is  mentioned,  the 
beautiful  baptismal  bowl  made  by  him  for  Trinity  Church 


56 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


in  Newport  is  immediately  recalled.  It  was  bequeathed  by 
Nathaniel  Kay,  collector  of  royal  customs  in  the  town,  and 
who  made  similar  bequests  to  other  Episcopal  churches 
throughout  the  state  in  1734.  His  great  interest  in  the 
Episcopal  Church  was  made  evident  when  he,  together  with 
several  others,  presented  a  petition  to  Queen  Anne  in  1713 
requesting  that  a  bishop  be  appointed  over  the  Church  of 
England  in  the  Colonie:^ 

Another  outstanding  Newport  craftsman  who  was  born 
in  1723  in  Sandwich,  Massachusetts,  was  Jonathan  Otis. 


TWO  CASTERS,  BY  JONATHAN   OTIS, 
NEWPORT,  R.  I.,  MIDDLETOWN,  CONN.,   1723-1791 

Museum  of  Art,  Rhode  Island  School  of  Design 


RHODE  ISLAND   SILVERSMITHS 


57 


At  the  time  of  the  British  occupation  of  Newport,  he  fled 
to  Middletown,  Connecticut,  where  he  worked  until  his 
death  in  1791.  Casters,  which  were  used  for  sprinkling- 
sugar  on  to  muffins,  were  frequently  made  by  him.  They 
were  of  the  style  known  as  the  vase-shaped  type  and  reflect 
the  influence  of  the  classic  revival  which  was  evident  in  all 
of  our  arts  and  crafts  during  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century. 

Samuel  Casey,  son  of  Samuel  and  Dorcas  (Ellis)  Casey, 
was  born  probably  in  Newport  about  1  724.  His  grand- 
father, Thomas  Casey,  settled  here  about  1658.  The 
parents  of  the  silversmith  lived  in  Newport  for  some  time, 
later  moved  to  North  Kingstown  and  then  to  Exeter  be- 
tween 1 740  and  1 742.  It  was  here  that  Casey  was  admitted 
as  a  freemen  in  1 745.   In  Exeter,  he  established  himself  as 


SOUTH   KINGSTOWN,  R.  I., 

c.  1724-c.  1773 

Museum  of  Art,  Rhude  Hand  School  of  Design 


58  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

a  silversmith,  and  a  few  years  later,  at  Curtis  Corners  joined 
in  partnership  with  his  brother,  Gideon.  In  1763,  when 
the  latter  moved  to  Warwick,  he  sold  his  interest  in  the 
property  to  Samuel.  One  year  later,  his  house,  together 
with  its  furnishings,  burned  causing  a  loss  of  approximately 
five  thousand  pounds. 

After  this  disaster,  Samuel  moved  to  the  Helme  House 
in  Little  Rest,  now  known  as  Kingston,  where  he  continued 
to  work  for  nearly  six  years.  It  was  here  that  he  began  his 
counterfeiting  of  Spanish  coins.  After  being  convicted  of 
this  crime  and  sentenced  to  hang,  he  was  freed  from  prison 
by  a  number  of  friends  who  broke  into  the  jail  and  released 
him.  Despite  the  efforts  of  the  authorities  to  locate  him, 
he  was  never  seen  after  his  escape,  although  it  is  believed 
that  several  residents  of  Little  Rest  were  quite  aware  of 
his  whereabouts. 

Casey  was  probably  the  greatest  Rhode  Island  silver- 
smith of  that  period.  Great  variety  is  found  in  his  hollow- 
ware  —  porringers,  casters,  cups,  creamers  and  teapots.  An 
outstanding  piece,  historically,  is  a  tankard  made  by  him 
for  presentation  to  Ezra  Stiles  when  he  resigned  his  Tutor- 
ship at  Yale  College  in  1755.  Two  beautifully  wrought 
pieces,  still  in  Rhode  Island,  are  pear-shaped  teapots.  One 
was  made  for  Abigail  Robinson,  whose  initials  and  arms 
appear  on  the  side  in  elaborate  engraving.  It  is  the  property 
of  Mrs.  Everitte  St.  John  Chaffee  of  Providence.  A  similar 
piece  is  owned  by  the  Newport  Historical  Society. 

Gideon  Casey,  the  brother  of  Samuel,  never  attained  such 
fame.  Although  in  partnership  with  his  brother  for  a  dec- 
ade, scarcely  any  examples  of  Gideon's  work  can  be  found. 
Two  spoons  with  the  shell  and  drop  on  the  back  of  the  bowl 
are  included  in  the  famous  Mabel  Brady  Garvan  Collec- 
tion. These  bear  the  maker's  mark,  G:  CASEY  within  a 
rectangle,  on  the  back  of  the  handle. 

John  Hancock,  possessing  the  same  name  as  the  great 
American  statesman,  was  born  in  Charlestown,  Massachu- 
setts, in  1732,  the  son  of  John  and  Susanna  (Chickering) 


RHODE   ISLAND   SILVERSMITHS  59 

Hancock.  He  finally  came  to  Providence  and  in  1760  was 
married  to  Martha  Sparhawk.  Little  more  information 
than  this  can  be  found  relating  to  him,  except  the  fine  re- 
maining examples  of  his  work.  A  beautiful  tankard  with 
mid-band  and  flame  finial  is  in  the  Clearwater  Collection 
in  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art.  It  was  wrought  by 
him  from  silver  coin  for  Benjamin  Wyman  of  Woburn, 
Massachusetts. 

Henry  Pitman  settled  in  Nassau,  New  Providence,  one 
of  the  Bahama  Islands,  about  1666.  His  son,  John,  mar- 
ried Mary  Saunders  and  after  the  burning  of  the  town  by 
French  and  Spaniards  in  July  1703,  moved  to  Newport  in 
1710.  So  much  misfortune  resulted  in  the  early  deaths  of 
this  couple  in  1711.  These  were  the  ancestors  of  Saunders 
Pitman,  a  Providence  silversmith.  He  w^orked  in  a  three 
story  house  on  the  west  side  of  North  Main  Street.  In  a 
quotation  from  Mechanics  Festival  and  Historic  Sketches 
—  Providence  1 860,  we  read,  "Industrious  in  his  business, 


CREAMER,  BY  SAUNDERS  PITMAN, 
PROVIDENCE,  R.  I.,  1732-1804 
Aluseuii!  of  Art,  R/ioJe  Island  School  of  Design 


60  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

punctual  in  his  dealings,  and  exemplary  in  his  morals,  he 
uniformly  sustained,  through  life,  a  fair  and  unimpeached 
character." 

He  was  a  very  prolific  craftsman,  and  many  pieces  still 
exist  as  evidence  of  his  excellent  work.  One  of  the  most 
interesting  and  unique  pieces  is  a  large  water  pitcher  with 
bulbous  body  and  hawk's  beak  lip.  It  is  the  property  of  the 
Estate  of  Nathaniel  Herreshoff  of  Bristol.  His  teapots, 
creamers  and  flatware  were  very  popular  in  the  vicinity  of 
Providence. 

Two  boat-shaped  sauce  boats,  each  with  three  hoof  feet 
and  long  lip,  are  beautifully  wrought  pieces  by  Thomas 
Arnold  of  Newport.  He  was  born  in  1739  and  died  in 
1828.  These  fine  pieces  are  the  property  of  Mr.  William 
Davis  Miller  of  Wakefield. 

Another  interesting  piece  by  Arnold  is  a  saucepan  with 
a  wooden  handle  at  right  angles  to  the  lip.  It  is  on  exhibi- 
tion in  the  Mabel  Brady  Garvan  Collection.  Pear-shaped 
creamers,  mounted  on  cabriole  legs,  introducing  the  curves 
of  the  rococo  style,  and  flatware  may  also  be  found  bearing 
his  mark,  sometimes  impressed  with  his  initials,  and  occa- 
sionally with  surname  in  full. 

Joseph  Perkins,  son  of  Edward  and  Elizabeth  (Brenton ) 
Perkins,  was  born  in  South  Kingstown  in  1 749.  Governor 
William  Brenton  was  his  great-grandfather.  Perkins'  occu- 
pations were  quite  varied  as  he  was  a  merchant,  gunsmith 
and  silversmith  of  Little  Rest.  In  addition  to  these  duties 
he  served  for  one  year  in  1781  with  the  Kingston  Reds,  an 
independent  company  of  the  militia.  He  died  in  1789  in 
the  fortieth  year  of  his  age.  Since  he  was  interested  chiefly 
in  mercantile  pursuits,  we  find  his  work  as  a  silversmith 
was  retarded.  This  is  evidenced  by  a  failure  to  find  a  greater 
variety  and  number  of  pieces,  his  silverware  being  com- 
prised principally  of  flatware  such  as  buckles  and  spoons. 

Thomas  Coverly,  although  listed  only  as  a  silversmith 
of  Newburyport,  Massachusetts,  has  been  reported  to  have 
worked  in  Newport  in  1  760.  A  can,  a  drinking  vessel  with 


RHODE   ISLAND   SILVERSMITHS  61 

a  bulbous  body  and  double  scroll  handle,  is  an  interesting 
piece  by  him  in  the  Collection  of  the  Museum  of  Art,  Rhode 
Island  School  of  Design.  His  mark,  T.  COVERLY  with- 
in a  rectangle,  is  impressed  on  the  base. 

Another  Newport  silversmith  who  was  born  in  1753  was 
Daniel  Rogers,  chosen  deputy  to  the  Assembly  from  New- 
port in  1792,  the  year  of  his  death.  Porringers,  cans  and 
flatware  appear  today  as  evidence  of  his  skill  as  a  silver- 
smith, 

A  silversmith  who  was  born  in  Wickford  in  1730  was 
William  Waite,  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Abigail  (Hall) 
Waite.  Not  only  was  he  a  craftsman,  but  was  also  a  preacher 
of  the  gospel  in  the  Baptist  ministry.  Although  listed  as  a 
silversmith  with  his  mark,  W:  WAITE  within  a  rectangle, 
I  have  not  yet  seen  a  piece  wrought  by  him.  Since  he  later 
moved  to  Cambridge,  New  York,  one  might  find  examples 
of  his  work  in  that  vicinity. 

His  brother,  John  Waite,  is  represented  by  many  fine 
pieces.  He,  also,  was  born  in  Wickford.  His  great-grand- 
father, Samuel,  was  one  of  the  original  landholders  in  this 
town.  John  probably  went  to  live  at  the  home  of  his  elder 
brother.  Dr.  Benjamin  Waite,  in  South  Kingstown,  and 
while  there,  became  apprenticed  to  Samuel  Casey. 

"He  was  one  of  the  petitioners  to  the  Assembly  for  a 
charter  for  an  independent  company  of  militia  under  the 
name  of  the  'Kingston  Reds.'  The  charter  was  granted  in 
the  October  Session,  1775,  and  within  less  than  one  year 
Waite  had  become  Captain  and  remained  in  command  until 
May  of  the  year  1799  .... 

"  .  .  .  .  In  May,  1787,  he  was  appointed  as  the  Fifth 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  but  for  reasons 
now  unknown  he  declined.  Nine  years  later  he  was  again 
appointed  to  the  Bench,  this  time  as  a  Justice  of  the  Com- 
mon Pleas  of  Washington  County  and  this  time  he  accepted 
and  retained  this  position  until  1799,  the  same  year  that  he 
resigned  as  commander  of  the  Kingston  Reds.    He  was  a 


62  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Justice  of  the  Peace  from  1791  to  1796  and  from  1799 
until  his  death  on  October  19,  1817.'" 

An  interesting  pair  of  sugar  tongs  attributed  to  him  by 
Mr.  William  Davis  Miller,  the  owner,  are  of  the  early  bow 
type.  The  arms  are  nicely  designed  with  undulating  leaf 
scrolls  and  terminate  in  shell  tips.  Instead  of  the  usual 
marks,  I.  WAITE  or  J.  WAITE,  J.  W,  within  a  rectangle 
is  impressed  on  each  arm.  Porringers,  creamers  and  flat- 
ware were  also  made  by  him. 

Nathaniel  Helme,  son  of  Judge  James  and  Esther 
(Powell)  Helme,  was  the  great-grandson  of  Gabriel  Ber- 
non,  a  Huguenot  of  North  Kingstown.  Despite  the  fact 
that  his  family  possessed  wealth,  Nathaniel  was  an  enter- 
prising young  man  and  produced  some  beautiful  pieces  of 
silver.  Undoubtedly  he  would  have  achieved  great  success 
had  his  career  not  been  interrupted  by  death  early  in  life, 
he  having  died  in  South  Kingstown  in  1789  in  the  twenty- 
ninth  year  of  his  age. 

Because  of  this,  few  pieces  remain  from  which  to  judge 
his  work.  A  porringer  with  a  keyhole  handle  is  the  prop- 
erty of  Mr.  Frank  Mauran,  Jr.,  of  Providence. 

Ezekiel  Burr,  a  Providence  craftsman,  who  was  born  in 
1 764,  produced  much  flatware  —  ladles  and  spoons  of  great 
variety  may  be  found  bearing  his  mark.  In  1792,  he  was 
in  business  with  his  brother,  William,  and  maintained  a 
shop  a  little  south  of  the  Baptist  Meeting  House. 

Another  Providence  silversmith  was  Calvin  Wheaton, 
who  worked  in  gold  and  silver  in  1790  in  a  shop  opposite 
Governor  Fenner's  house  and  in  1791  at  the  sign  of  the 
Clock  opposite  the  Friend's  Meeting  House.  A  beautiful 
serving  spoon,  large  enough  to  serve  the  Thanksgiving 
dinner,  is  in  the  Collection  of  the  Museum  of  Art,  Rhode 
Island  School  of  Design.  It  is  decorated  with  the  bright-cut 
engraving  which  became  so  popular  at  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  century. 

^See  "The  Silversmiths  of  Little  Rest,"  by  William  Davis  Miller. 


RHODE   ISLAND   SILVERSMITHS  63 

Seril  Dodge  was  a  Providence  gold-  and  silversmith  as 
well  as  a  watch-  and  clockmaker.  He  maintained  a  shop  in 
1788  just  north  of  the  Baptist  Meeting  House  on  North 
Main  Street  and  was  particularly  well-known  for  the  shoe 
buckles  which  he  wrought.  A  little  creamer  with  an  urn- 
shaped  body  and  splay  base  was  made  by  him  of  the  silver 
buttons  from  Esek  Hopkins'  uniform.  It  is  now  owneci  by 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  C.  Babbitt  of  Boston.  Later,  Seril  Dodge 
moved  to  Pomfret,  Connecticut,  where  he  died  in  1802. 

Nehemiah  Dodge,  a  silversmith  and  jeweler  as  well, 
established  himself  in  Providence  about  1798.  He  was 
situated  on  North  Main  Street  in  a  shop  on  the  Roger 
Williams  estate.  There  are  examples  of  his  flatware  vary- 
ing from  pieces  decorated  with  bright-cut  engraving  to 
those  with  coffin-shaped  and  flddle  back  candles.  These 
prove  his  merit  as  a  silversmith,  but  he  is,  perhaps,  of 
greater  importance  to  Providence  and  its  history  as  an  early 
manufacturer  of  moderately-priced  jewelry. 

It  was  said  of  him,  "He  possessed  great  energy  and 
activity,  and  the  industry  of  a  long  life  was  crowned  with 
success." 

John  C.  Jenckes,  whose  record  as  a  Christian  could  not 
possibly  have  been  surpassed,  was  a  silversmith  who  worked 
as  an  apprentice  to  John  Gibbs  in  a  shop  on  the  corner  of 
Westminster  and  Exchange  Streets,  After  the  death  of 
Mr.  Gibbs  in  1798,  Jenckes  went  into  partnership  with 
Eliza  Gibbs,  the  widow.  This  continued  for  two  years,  and 
after  that  he  carried  on  business  alone  on  Friendship  Street. 

Another  Providence  silversmith  was  Pardon  Miller,  who 
died  in  1800.  Although  most  of  the  pieces  by  him  were 
flatware,  there  is  a  lovely  porringer  with  a  keyhole  handle 
bearing  his  mark  and  owned  by  Mrs.  Robert  L.  Blackinton 
of  Providence. 

There  were  many  more  craftsmen  of  this  period  who  pro- 
duced silver,  particularly  flatware.  Among  them  were 
Elnathan  C.  Brown,  Christopher  Burr,  Walter  Cornell, 
William  Hamlin,  B.  H.  Tisdale  and  Peleg  Weeden. 


64  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

George  Baker,  who  worked  in  1825  in  Providence, 
wrought  several  teasets.  They  were  large  in  size  and  ornate 
in  decoration.  Beautiful  gadrooning  was  usually  overpow- 
ered by  the  heavy  ungraceful  shapes.  Flower  heads  were 
frequently  used  as  finials,  while  the  bases  were  generally 
large  and  cumbersome.  As  a  whole  the  pieces  lacked  the 
delicacy  and  excellent  proportions,  developed  to  such  great 
extent  in  the  eighteenth  century.  The  love  of  simplicity 
among  the  Colonists  and  early  Americans  of  the  Republic 
continued  for  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  years.  After 
all  simple  designs  and  shapes  had  been  exhausted,  extreme 
ornamentation  was  again  introduced. 

These  craftsmen  all  helped  to  establish  an  industry  in 
Providence  that  has  continued  to  the  present  day.  Not  only 
was  it  the  skill  of  these  early  Rhode  Island  silversmiths, 
but  also  their  ideals  and  determination  to  succeed  which 
helped  to  raise  the  industrial  standard  of  this  country. 

Although,  as  already  stated,  no  standard  of  silver  existed 
in  this  country  in  the  early  days,  the  quality  of  the  metal 
compares  very  favorably  with  the  sterling  quality  de- 
manded by  England.  Constant  trade  with  the  mother  coun- 
try brought  about  our  adoption  of  the  sterling  quality  about 
1  865,  thus  avoiding  difficulties  involved  with  the  exchange. 

Rhode  Island  has  produced  much  beautiful  silverware 
and  is  most  fortunate  in  being  able  to  claim  among  the 
native  craftsmen  so  many  whose  reputations  rank  among 
the  foremost  of  this  country. 


All  of  the  cuts  were  lent  to  the  Rhode  Island  Historical 
Society  by  the  Museum  of  Art,  Rhode  Island  School  of 
Design. 


MY  VISIT   TO  THE  EASTWARD  65 

Journal  of  My  Visit  to  the  Eastward 
Commencing  in  August,  1781 

By  W.  Rogers 

{Continued  from  Vol.  XXXIII,  p.  44) 

N.  B,  Silas  Winchester  from  PhiPa.  being  present  was 
much  chagrin'd  when  his  Brother's  Apostacy  was  in  ye 
Course  of  our  Proceedings  descanted  upon, 

Thursday  Sep:  13.  Afr'n.  Business  being  finished  the 
preceeding  Day — Set  out  with  Presid't.  Manning  early  this 
Morning  on  our  Return  to  Providence.  Halted  a  Short 
Space  at  a  Mr.  Fisk's  in  Sturbridge.  Dined  at  Mr.  Coles, 
Woodjnk.  Proceeded  as  far  as  Pomfret  &  Lodged  at  Mr. 
Benj :  Thurber's — much  fatigued, 

Friday,  Sept.  14.  Dined  at  Seepatchet  alias  Gloucester. 
Got  back  to  Providence  just  in  the  Evening.  Went  to  Post 
Office  &  Reed,  a  Letter  from  Col.  Miles  of  ye  28th  Ult.: 
Informing  me  that  my  Family  was  well.  Put  up  at  Johnny's. 

Saturday  Sept.  15.  Answer'd  Mr.  Stillman's  Letter  & 
wrote  to  Uncle  Thurston  &  Brother  Danl.  Breakfasted  at 
Nicholas  Brown's  with  Mr.  Ustic — Dined  at  Johnny's. 

Sunday  Sep:  16,  Robt,  came  up  this  Morning  from 
Coventry — Pursuant  to  Request  preached  Each  part  of 
ye  Day  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  they  being  Destitute 
of  a  Minister,  Put  a  Letter  in  Post  Office  for  Col:  Miles 
— Towards  Ev'g,  set  out  for  Coventry  with  Robt,,  got  to 
his  house  just  after  9  o'clock. 

Monday  Sep:  17.  Spent  the  Day  at  Bobby's — with 
whom  Dined  an  agreeable  Company. 

Tuesday  Sep:  18.  Breakfasted  at  Mr.  Jacob  Green's — 
Between  11  &  1 2  o'clock  set  out  with  Robt.  &c.  for  Green- 
wich. Went  to  ye  Governor's  &  Dined,  was  to  have  preached 


66  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

this  Afternoon  by  Appointm't.  but  prevented  by  a  furious 
S  E  Storm  which  Commenc'd  abt.  1 1  o'clock  A.M.  &  lasted 
'till  near  5  P.M.   Tarryed  at  the  Governor's  all  Night. 

Wednesday  Sep:  19.  The  preceeding  Night  arrived  on 
Express  from  Gov:  Bowen  of  Providence  to  Gov:  Green 
purporting  that  40  Sail  of  ye  Enemy's  Vessels  were  in  ye 
sound  Supposed  to  be  on  Some  Distressing  Plan — Abt. 
Day  Light  ye  Same  Accounts  arrived  from  Newp't.  Break- 
fasted at  Gov:  Green's  &  afterwards  set  out  for  Providence 
thro  Patuxett  in  Company  with  Mr.  Bacon  ye  Express — 
A  very  pleasant  Day!  Got  to  Providence  at  10  o'clock — 
Dined  at  Mr.  Carter's.  Being  there  in  ye  Evening  Mr. 
Manning  &  Mr.  Backus  came  to  me,  went  home  with  Mr. 
Manning,  and  lodged  at  his  house  with  Mr.  Backus. 

Thursday  Sep:  20.  Breakfasted  at  Mr.  N.  Brown's. 
A.M.  Rode  to  Judge  Morey's  in  Smithfield  9  Miles  from 
Town,  dined  there  with  his  Lady.  P.M.  Returned  as  far 
as  Mr.  John  Jenckes's  &  took  Coffee — Visited  Com:  Hop- 
kins's Family  &  got  back  to  Bro:  Johnny's  just  at  Dusk. 
A  wet,  disagreeable  Day! 

Friday  Sep:  21.  Rainy  Cold  Morning!  Dined  at  Mr. 
Bliven's.  P.M.  Attended  a  Funeral.  Post  got  in  but 
brought  no  Letter  for  me,  felt  somewhat  unwell  in  ye  Ev'g, 

Saturday  Sep:  22.  Breakfasted  at  Mr.  Manning's  & 
Dined  at  Home — Sister  Barker  arrived  from  Coventry 
with  Sanf'd. 

Sunday  Sep:  23.  Preached  Both  Parts  of  ye  Day  for  the 
Presbyterians.  After  Service  waited  on  Mrs.  Hitchcox  & 
took  Tea. 

Monday  Sept.  24.  Breakfasted  at  Mr.  N.  Brown's. 
Wrote  a  Letter  to  Post  to  Mrs.  Rogers.  Dined  at  Mr. 
Manning's.  An  Exceedingly  pleasant  Day,  the  Weather 
having  alter'd  greatly  for  the  Better. 

Tuesday  Sep:  25.  At  11  o'clock  A.M.  Bid  Adieu  to 
Providence  Friends. — Crossed  ye  lower  Ferry  &  got  to  Mr. 
Thompson's  in  Swansey  to  Dine,  preached  at  2  o'clock  & 


MY  VISIT  TO  THE  EASTWARD  67 

after  Service  was  Introduc'd  to  Mr.  Ingalls.  In  ye  Evening 
went  down  to  my  Cousin  Comer's  &  tarryed  the  Night. 

Wednesday  Sep:  26.  Having  Breakfasted  prepared  for 
going,  Called  in  to  See  Sally  Coggeshall,  an  Object  of  Real 
Distress!  Had  an  Excellent  Time  over  Bristol  Ferry,  took 
ye  East  Road  &  Stop'd  at  Mr.  Lawton's  to  See  Mrs.  Han- 
ners,  Enjoyed  a  pleasing  Interview,  Dined  there  &  then 
went  to  Newport,  Drank  Coffee  at  Mr.  Southwick's,  Put 
up  at  Uncle  Thurston's  who  is  Considerably  better,  met 
with  Josey  &  Robt.  with  their  Wives. 

Thursday  Sep:  27.  Dined  at  Uncle's.  P.M.  Walked 
to  Elder  Bliss's  &  Continued  all  Night,  was  agreeably 
Entertain'd. 

Friday  Sep:  28.  A  most  beautifull  Morning,  Returned 
after  Breakfast  to  Town  &  had  handed  me  a  Letter  from 
Johnny  of  ye  26th  Inst,  wrote  at  the  Desire  of  some  of 
the  principal  Episcopalians  in  Providence  earnestly  request- 
ing my  Becoming  their  Minister,  much  obliged  to  the 
Gentlemen  for  their  good  Opinion  of  my  poor  Abilities 
but  many  Circumstances  prevent  a  Complyance.  Visited 
Col.  Elliott  who  is  gradually  mortifying.  Dined  with  Uncle 
Thurston,  Rob't.  &c  at  Mr.  John  Bours's  where  we  had 
the  Company  of  Mr.  Parker  an  Episcopal  Clergyman  from 
Boston.  Drank  Tea  there  also.  Felt  occasionally  Chagrined 
at  many  Torifyed  Remarks  made  in  ye  Course  of  ye 
Afternoon. 

Saturday  Sep:  29.  P.M.  Preached  for  Seventh  Day 
Church,  a  thin  Congregation  owing  to  the  unsettled 
Weather.  Drank  Tea  at  Abby  &  Becky  Sanford's. 

Sunday  Sep:  30.  Early  this  Morning  Rec'd.  a  Letter 
from  Johnny  in  Providence  Inclosing  One  of  ye  10th  Inst, 
from  Mr.  Kelly  in  Phil'a.  giving  me  the  pleasing  Intelli- 
gence of  the  health  of  my  Dear  Mrs.  Rogers  &  c.  Billy, 
may  a  kind  Providence  Return  me  to  them  in  Safety!  By 
Mr.  Kelly's  Letter  it  appears  that  Mrs.  Rogers  wrote  me 
on  26th  Ult:  wch  as  I  have  not  Rec'd.  must  have  been 


68  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

taken  with  ye  Mail  lately  Carryed  into  York  -  -  A.M. 
Preached  in  Trinity  Church.  Ditto  P.M.  Felt  much  Free- 
dom. The  Church  between  Services  was  occupied  by  Mr. 
Parker  as  also  after  Afternoon  Service,  heard  him  the  last 
Time,  he  appears  to  be  a  good  Compomist  &  a  middling 
Speaker.  Drank  Tea  at  Mr,  Hazard's.  A  most  beautifull 
Day  which  occasioned  Newp't.  Streets  to  appear  consider- 
ably Lively. 

Monday  Octob'r.  1.  Wrote  a  Letter  to  Johnny  in 
Answer  to  his  of  ye  26th  Ult:  &  forwarded  it  by  Bobby. 
Rode  out  with  Uncle  Thurston  to  Mrs,  McQuarter's  at 
Whitehall,  Returned  &  Dined  at  Mr.  Fowler's,  Drank 
Tea  at  Mrs,  Perkins's,  Arrived  a  Vessel  from  Egg  Har- 
bor whose  Captain  Reports  that  on  Tuesday  last  an 
Express  got  to  Phil'a.  announcing  the  Surrender  of  Lord 
Cornwallis,  y't.  it  may  be  true  is  my  Sincere  Wish. 

Tuesday  Oct:  2.  Rose  very  Early  &  Breakfasted  at 
Mr.  Bours's,  after  wch  set  out  with  him  for  Westerly, 
had  an  agreeable  Time  over  Connanicut  &  Narragansett 
Ferries.  At  1/2  past  2  o'ck.  Reached  Lydia's  distant  from 
Newp't.  30  Miles,  found  Sally  with  her,  the  Situation  of 
Col:  Noyes's  house  Exceedingly  pleasant!  Mr.  Bours 
went  on  to  Doct'r.  Babcock's,  Enjoyed  on  ye  Road  a 
Variety  of  Agreeable  Chat  with  him.  Tarryed  at  Lydia's, 
the  whole  Family  with  wch  She  has  form'd  a  Connection 
very  kind  to  me.  Tommy  her  husband  appears  to  be  of 
a  most  amiable  Disposition.  Rainy  Evening! 

Wednesday  Oct:  3.  Beautifull  Morning!  A.M.  Visited 
Genl,  Green's  Lady,  Dined  at  Tommy's  with  whom  took 
a  Ride  in  ye  afternoon  over  the  Farm  &  along  the  Beach, 
a  most  advantageous  Place  for  Fishing  &  Fowling! 
Towards  Evening  came  Danl,  &  Nancy  &  staid  the  Night, 

Thursday  Oct:  4,  Mrs,  Brenton  and  myself  walk'd  over 
to  Mrs.  Green's.  Dined  at  Col:  Noyes's,  after  Dinner 
went  home  with  Danl.  &  Nancy  accompanyed  wth  Lyd'a 
Sally  &.C. 


MY  VISIT  TO  THE  EASTWARD  69 

Friday  Oct:  5.  Preceeding  Night  very  Cold,  Standing 
Water  froze  quite  hard.  Dined  &  Spent  the  Day  at  Mr. 
Brenton's. 

Saturday  Oct:  6  At  12  o'clock  preached  at  Hopkinton 
for  Seventh  Day  Church.  While  at  Dinner  at  Dan'ls.  with 
a  Large  Company  Rob't.  arrived  from  Providence  but 
brought  no  public  News.  Towards  Evening  Rode  home 
with  Br.  Noyes  &  Lodged. 

Sunday  Oct:  7.  A.M.  Preached  in  the  Presbyterian 
Meeting  House  at  Westerley.  Owing  to  the  wretched 
Condition  of  the  Building  &  the  Rawness  of  the  Day 
but  Few  Comparatively  attended  Service.  Dined  at  Col: 
Noyes's  with  a  numerous  Circle.  Rob't,  &  myself  went 
home  with  Dan'l.  &  Lodged.  Evening  much  pleasanter 
than  the  Morning,  tho'  somewhat  Cold. 

Monday  Oct:  8.  Dined  with  many  others  at  Dr.  Bab- 
cock's  &  Spent  an  agreeable  Afternoon.  Parted  with  Bobby 
Lydia  and  Sally  &c.  In  the  Evening  Mr.  Manning  pur- 
suant to  prior  Determination  arrived  at  Daniel's  on  his 
Journey  Westward,  felt  much  Pleasure  at  Seeing  hini! 
Dr.  Babcock  &  Lady,  Mr.  Brenton  &  Lady  Sup'd  with  us, 
with  whom  Enjoyed  an  agreeable  Interview.  May  Indul- 
gent Heaven  Reward  all  my  Eastern  Friends  &  Relatives 
for  their  kindness  towards  me. 

Tuesday  Oct:  9.  After  an  Early  Breakfast,  President 
Manning  &  myself  sat  out  on  our  Journey  towards  Phil- 
ada.  Dan'l  accompanyed  us  6  Miles,  An  Exceeding  fine 
Day!  Dined  at  Mr.  Belton's  in  Groton.  P.M.  Took  a 
View  of  Fort  Griswold,  after  which  Crossed  the  Ferry  & 
Rode  thro'  ye  Town  of  New  London  to  observe  the  Ruins, 
the  Sight  affected  our  Hearts!  Destroyed  Buildings, 
Weeping  Widows  and  Fatherless  Children!  Surely  some 
hidden  Curse  awaits  the  Villains  who  have  thus  Imbu'd 
their  Lands  in  Innocent  Blood!  Crossed  Rope  Ferry  & 
put  up  just  at  Dusk  at  Col:  Parsons's  in  Lyme,  30  Miles 


70  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

from  Pocatucke   Bridge.   Doct:   Flagg  arrived   Immedi- 
ately after  us  on  his  Way  from  Philad'a.  to  Rhode  Island. 

Wednesday  Oct:  10.  Started  about  Day  Light  but 
Detain'd  sometime  in  Crossing  Saybrook  Ferry.  Break- 
fasted at  Killingsworth,  a  very  good  Inn!  Halted  better 
than  an  Hour  at  Fowler's  Tavern  in  Guilford  Parish,  from 
whence  in  ye  Afternoon  jogged  Steadily  on  to  New  Haven 
Ferry,  had  a  bad  Time  over.  Got  to  New  Haven  before 
Sunset  &  put  up  at  Mr.  Helmer's,  Journey  40  Miles. 
Felt  much  fatigued  &  had  considerable  of  an  Head  Ach. 

Thursday  Oct:  11.  Partook  of  a  very  early  Breakfast 
&  then  proceeded  on  to  Milford  where  we  halted  at  Parson 
Wales's.  Crossed  Stratford  Ferry  &  Reached  Poquonot 
abt.  12  o'clock.  Dined  at  Esqr.  Hubbell's.  P.M.  Passed 
thro'  Greenfield  &  Spent  a  few  Minutes  with  Parson  Ten- 
nent,  from  Greenfield  went  to  Willton,  Roads  very  Bad! 
Put  up  for  the  Night  at  a  Tavern  kept  by  one  Middle- 
brook,  distant  from  New  Haven  39  Miles. 

Friday  Oct:  12.  Rode  6  Miles  before  Sunrise  &  After- 
wards passed  thro'  Ridgefield  on  to  Upper  Salem  & 
Breakfasted  at  Capt.  Hunt's.  Fell  into  Chat  with  Lt. 
Col:  Johnson  of  ye  Connecticut  Line  whose  Company  we 
Enjoyed  thro'  Crumpond  near  to  Peekskill,  Halted  & 
Refresh'd  our  Horses  at  a  Mr.  Carman's.  Previous  to  our 
reaching  Peekskill  it  began  to  Rain,  proceeded  notwith- 
standing on  to  King's  Ferry  &  Crossed  with  some  Difii- 
culty.  Just  at  Dusk  got  to  a  Parson  Burns's  who  keeps  an 
house  of  Entertainment  in  Haverstran  3  1/2  Miles  from 
the  Ferry,  a  Small  Building  but  good  Fare!  The  Presid't. 
&  myself  were  wet  to  the  Skin,  on  wch  Acct.  we  had  but 
an  uncomfortable  Even'g.  However  "What  can't  be  Cur'd 
must  be  Endur'd"  And  it  is  the  Duty  of  All  "To  make 
the  Best  of  a  bad  Bargain"  Journey  to  Day  42  Miles.  It 
was  our  Intention  to  have  visited  the  Army  under  Genl. 
Heath  but  as  they  Lay  3  or  4  Miles  above  Peekskill  we 
thought  it  considering  our  long  Journey  unadviseable. 


MY  VISIT  TO  THE  EASTWARD  71 

Saturday  Oct:  13.  Owing  to  my  being  wet  had  but  a 
poor  Night's  Rest.  At  Kakeat  we  were  overtook  by  Col: 
Skinner  &  another  Gentleman,  A  Junction  highly  accept- 
able as  we  were  now  in  a  very  dangerous  Road.  Break- 
fasted at  Mr.  Sovereign's  Mouth  of  the  Clove.  Enquir'd 
the  Safest  Way  &  being  Directed  proceeded  on  to  Paramus, 
Soon  after  we  left  Sovereign's  perceived  that  I  had  lost 
somewhere  this  Morning  a  Link  &  One  Eye  of  a  gold 
Sleeve  Button,  found  ye  other  Eye,  a  loss  this  tho'  trifling 
I  reflected  much  on  as  the  Pair  were  one  of  ye  last  Presents 
from  my  ever  hon'd.  Mamma!  Previous  to  our  reaching 
Hopper's  Tavern  at  Paramus  an  amazingly  heavy  Gust 
of  Wind  came  on  so  that  we  were  scarcely  able  to  set  on 
Horseback,  this  being  accompanyed  with  Rain  compell'd 
us  to  Stop  short  of  our  Intended  Stage,  we  were  cast  under 
the  Roof  of  an  hospitable,  curious.  Swearing  old  Man  by 

ye  Name  of to  Restrain  Laughter  with  such  an 

Oddity  was  morally  Impossible,  he  kept  us  all  upon  the 
high  Key  during  our  Detention  with  him  wch  was  more 
than  an  Hour!  The  Rain  Subsiding  decamp'd  from  this 
Mansion  and  Reluctantly  parted  Company  with  Col: 
Skinner  near  Hopper's,  Our  Course  lay  thro'  Totowa 
where  upon  our  Arrival  we  .walked  across  the  Bridge  & 
view'd  the  Man  with  ye  Big  Head,  he  appears  very  good 
Natur'd  but  is  a  Shocking  Object!  Recrossing  the  Bridge 
we  Rode  up  the  Passaick  &  took  a  View  of  the  Great  Falls! 
Abt.  1  1/2  Miles  above  wch  we  forded  the  River  &  went 
by  a  "Deaf"  Road  on  to  Post's  Mills.  In  ye  Woods  lead- 
ing thither  we  discover'd  the  Effects  of  ye  Hurricane  by 
the  Fall  of  many  Trees!  At  Post's  Mills,  Obtain'd 
Directions  for  Newark  Mountain  Meeting  House  where 
we  got  just  before  Day  Light  in  &  then  had  10  Miles  to 
Ride  in  Order  to  Reach  Mr.  Stiles's  in  Connecticut  Farms 
upon  wch  Mr.  Manning  was  fully  bent.  It  being  Dark 
we  were  Excessively  puzzled  to  find  the  Way  &  ye  More 
we  Enquir'd  of  ye  Inhabitants  the  more  they  appear'd 
to  Darken  Counsel  with  Words  however  after  much  turn- 


72  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

ing  to  ye  Right  &  to  the  Left  we  at  Length  arrived  our 
Horses  &  ourselves  amazingly  fatigued  having  Rode  at 
Least  SS  Miles.  Just  before  we  dismounted  at  Mr.  Stiles's 
Door  my  horse  fell  with  me  but  thro'  Mercy  did  me  no 
Injury.  Li  5  Days  we  Rode  more  than  200  Miles.  Sup'd 
&  soon  went  to  Bed. 

Sunday  Oct:  14.  This  Morning  felt  much  Refresh'd. 
Mr.  Manning  went  to  Scot's  Plains  Meeting  &  preached. 
Returned  between  4  &  5  o'clock  P.M.  &  heard  me  at  Mr. 
Stiles's,  Notice  being  so  Short  but  Few  People  attended. 

Monday  Oct:  15.  Tarryed  at  Mr.  Wites's  'till  after 
Dinner  when  we  took  our  Leave  &  rode  thro'  Westheld 
on  to  Piscatawa  about  12  Miles  &  Lodged  at  one  Mr. 
Randal's  own  Uncle  to  Mr.  Manning. 

Tuesday  Oct:  16.  Went  to  Mrs.  Welle's  &  Break- 
fasted, found  her  &  ye  Family  much  dejected  owing  to 
the  Death  of  her  Husband  Rev:  Mr.  Welle  who  Departed 
this  Life  on  the  9th  Inst.  Proceeded  by  the  Way  of  Bruns- 
wick Landing  &  Rocky  Hill  on  to  Hopewell,  put  up  at 
Rev:  Mr.  Hart's  who  since  my  Absence  has  been  made 
happy  in  the  Coming  of  Mrs.  Hart  to  his  Country  Man- 
sion, Mrs.  Hart  with  ye  Rest  of  ye  Family  very  agreeable! 
Evening  &  Night  very  Rainy  &  Raw. 

Wednesday  Oct:  17.  Pleasant  Morning!  at  a  late  hour 
in  ye  forenoon  left  Mr.  Hart's,  Crossed  Howell's  Ferry 
&  upon  our  Reaching  Newtown  took  some  Refreshm't.  at 
Mr.  John  Hart's  from  whence  we  proceeded  on  to  Mr. 
Danhorn's  in  Southampton  &  Lodged  where  we  met 
Messrs.  Joshuah  Jones  and  Nicholas  Cox. 

Thursday  Oct:  18.  A.M.  Rode  to  Rev.  S.  Jones's  & 
Billy  well,  for  which  &  all  other  Favors  may  a  kind  God 
Dined.  P.M.  Reached  Philad'a.  &  found  Mrs.  Rogers  & 
make  me  truly  thankfull. 


Rhode    Island 

Historical     Society 

Collections 


Vol.   XXXIll 


OCTOBER,   1940 


No.  + 


MAJOR    WILLIAM  AMES 
1863 


Issued  Quarterly 


68  Waterman  Street,  Proxidence,  Rhode  Island 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Civil  War  Letters  of  William  Ames 

B)'  William  Greene  Roelker         ...  73 

Additional  Notes  on  the  Origin  of  the  Artistic 
Motives  of  the  Design  of  the  pjisign 

by  Howard  M.  Chapin         .  .  .  .  92 


The  Officers  of  the 

Rhode  Island  Historical  Society 

announce  with  deep  regret 

the  death  of  the  Librarian 

Howard  Millar  Chapin 

on  September  18,   1940 


RHODE 
HISTORICAL 


ISLAND 

SOCIETY 


COLLECTIONS 


Vol.   XXXIII 


OCTOBER,   1940 


No.  4 


Charles  F.  Stearns,  President  Robert  T.  Downs,  Treasurer 

William  Davis  Miller,  Secretary 


The  Society  assumes  no  responsibility  for  the  statements  or  the  opinions 
of  contributors. 


Civil  War  Letters  of  William  Ames 

From  Brown  University  to  Bull  Run 
Edited  by  William  Greene  Roelker 

William  Ames^  was  just  nineteen  and  a  sophomore  at 
Brown  when  he  was  mustered  into  the  Union  Army  as 
Second  Lieutenant  of  Infantry,  June  6,  1861.  After  fifty- 
one  months  of  service  he  was  mustered  out  brevet  Brig- 
adier-General of  Artillery.  During  this  period  he  was  a 
conscientious  correspondent  and  his  hitherto  unpublished 
letters  to  his  family  are  a  continuous  account  of  the  oper- 
ations of  the  Rhode  Island  troops  with  which  he  served. 
Occasionally  it  needs  to  be  supplemented  by  a  brief  account 
of  the  general  military  situation. 


^  Born  in  Providence,  Mav  15,  1842,  William  Ames  was  the  second 
son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Throop  (Dorr)  xAmes.  His  father,  a  distin- 
guished member  of  the  Rhode  Island  Bar,  was  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  1856-65.  His  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Sullivan 
Dorr  and  brother  of  Thomas  Wilson  Dorr,  of  the  "Dorr  War."  His 
older  brother  Sullivan  Dorr  Ames  was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  Navy. 


74  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Two  days  after  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter  President 
Lincoln  called  for  75,000  militia  for  three-month  service 
to  suppress  the  rebellion.  Five  days  later,  April  20,  1861, 
the  first  detachment  of  the  1st  Rhode  Island  Regiment, 
under  the  command  of  Col.  Ambrose  E.  Burnside,"  left 
Providence  for  the  defense  of  Washington.^ 

But  it  soon  became  evident  that  it  would  take  longer 
than  ninety  days  to  suppress  the  rebellion.  On  May  3 
Lincoln  issued  a  proclamation  calling  into  service  42,034 
three-year  volunteers  (unless  sooner  discharged),  22,714 
enlisted  men  to  add  ten  regiments  to  the  regular  army, 
18,000  seamen  for  blockade  service. 


Entering  Brown  in  the  fall  of  18  59,  William  Ames  left  to  join  the 
army  in  June,  1861.  In  1891,  by  special  vote,  he  was  awarded  the 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 

For  a  brief  account  of  his  military  career,  see  John  R.  Bartlett,  Memoirs 
of  Rhode  Island  Officers  (Providence,  1867),  241-42,  hereinafter  cited 
as  Bartlett. 

After  the  war  Ames  became  prominent  in  the  management  of  the 
Fletcher  Mfg.  Co.  and  the  Providence  Washington  Insurance  Co.  For 
thirty  years  he  was  President  of  the  Blackstone  Canal  National  Bank. 
He  was  chairman  of  the  commission  which  built  the  State  House. 

^Ambrose  E.  Burnside  though  born  in  Indiana  was  an  adopted  son  of 
Rhode  Island.  He  graduated  from  West  Point  (1847)  and  served  in  the 
Artillery  in  the  Mexican  War.  He  then  came  to  Bristol  and  established 
a  factory  for  the  manufacture  of  a  breech-loading  rifle  of  his  invention. 
This  venture  was  unsuccessful  and  he  removed  to  Chicago  where  he 
became  Treasurer  of  the  Illinois  Central  R.  R.  Co.  Gov.  Sprague 
appointed  him  Colonel  1st  R.  I.  and  he  continued  in  command  until 
it  was  mustered  out,  its  time  having  elapsed,  August  2,  1861.  At  the 
Battle  of  Bull  Run,  July  21,  Col.  Burnside  was  in  command  of  the  Second 
Brigade,  Second  Division,  under  Col.  David  Hunter.  On  August  6,  1  861, 
he  was  commissioned  Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers.    Bartlett,  9-93. 

^  Augustus  Woodbury,  A  'Narrative  of  the  Camfaign  of  the  First  Rhode 
Island  Regiment  (Providence,  1862),  1-17,  hereinafter  cited  as  Wood- 
bury, First  R.  I.  Regt. 

Augustus  Woodbury,  Harvard  Divinity  School,  '49,  was  a  Unitarian 
minister,  at  the  Westminster  Society,  Providence.  He  served  as  Chaplain 
of  the  First  R.  I.  Regiment  from  April  to  August,  1861.  He  was  a  well 
known  author  and  wrote  the  historv  of  the  Second  R.  I.  Regiment. 


CIVIL   WAR   LETTERS   OF   WILLIAM    AMES  75 

Governor  William  Sprague^  had  anticipated  the  call 
for  more  men  and  in  mid-April  had  directed  Adjutant 
General  Edward  C.  Mauran''  to  fill  the  ranks  of  the 
militia  companies.  So  when  the  call  came  the  men  were 
already  enlisted  and  Governor  Sprague  appointed  Major 
John  S,  Slocum"  and  Dr.  Francis  L.  Wheaton,'  both  of  the 
1st  Regiment,  to  organize  the  Second  Rhode  Island  Regi- 
ment. On  May  3 1  the  General  Assembly  passed  the  nec- 
essary legislation  and  Adjt.  Gen.  Mauran  ordered  the 
regiment  organized  "forthwith."  Slocum  was  appointed 
Colonel,  Dr.  Wheaton,  Surgeon,  and  company  officers 
were  named,  including  the  three  officers  of  Company  D, 
Capt.  William  H.  P.  Steere,""  First  Lieutenant  Edward  H. 
Sears'  and  Second  Lieutenant  William  Ames. 


*  William  Sprague,  Governor  of  Rhode  Island,  1  860-63,  U.  S.  Senator, 
1863-75.  He  was  born  in  1830,  the  son  of  Amasa  and  the  nephew  of 
William  (Governor  of  Rhode  Island,  1838-39,  U.  S.  Senator,  1842-44) 
who  formed  the  famous  cotton  manufacturing  firm  of  A.  &  W.  Sprague. 
"War  Governor"  Sprague  early  took  an  interest  in  military  life,  enlisting 
(1848)  as  a  private  in  the  Marine  Artillery  he  rose  to  be  Colonel.  He 
was  appointed  a  Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers  but  was  not  mustered  in 
as  he  wished  to  retain  his  gubernatorial  position.  In  the  election  of  1860 
he  was  opposed  to  Lincoln  but  when  the  war  began  he  bent  every  energy 
to  assisting  the  Union  cause.  The  Biographical  Cylclofedia  of  Representa- 
tive Men  of  Rhode  Island  (Providence,  1881),  522,  hereinafter  cited  as 
Bio.  Cyc;  Bartlett,  105-114. 

°  Edward  C.  Mauran  was  Adjutant  General  for  Rhode  Island  through- 
out the  war  and  was  given  the  highest  approbation  of  the  Department  of 
War  for  his  efficient  administration  of  affairs.  Proceedings,  R.  I.  Hist. 
Soc,  1886-87,  75-77. 

John  S.  Slocum  of  Richmond  volunteered  for  service  in  the  Mexican 
War  and  became  a  Captain.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  he  was  com- 
missioned Major  in  the  1st  R.  I.  and  resigned  to  become  Colonel  of  the 
2d  R.  I.  He  was  killed  in  action  at  Bull  Run,  Julv  21,  1861.  Bartlett, 
121-25. 

^  Francis  L.  Wheaton  of  Providence:  Surgeon  1st  R.  I.,  April  18,  1861; 
Surgeon  2d  R.  I.,  June  6,  1861  ;  resigned  Sept.  12,  1862.  Unless  other- 
wise noted  all  records  are  taken  from  Augustus  Woodbury's  The  Second 
Rhode  Island  Regiment  (Providence,  1875),  hereinafter  cited  as  Wood- 
bury. 

^William  H.  P.  Steere  of  Providence;  Capt.  Co.  D,  June  1,  1861; 


Td  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

The  hurried  departure  of  the  1st  Rhode  Island  to  the 
defense  of  Washington  deprived  the  people  of  an  oppor- 
tunity to  demonstrate  their  pride  and  aifection  for  their 
soldiers  with  the  result  that  the  2d  Regiment  received  a 
double  measure  of  attention.  Governor  Sprague  led  the 
way.  Under  the  title,  "Aid  and  Comfort  for  the  Second 
Regiment"  the  Providence  Daily  Post  editorially  an- 
nounced that  "the  collation  usually  given  by  the  Chief 
Magistrates  of  the  State  on  their  return  from  [the  summer 
session  of  the  General  Assembly  at]  Newport,  will  be 
omitted  by  Governor  Sprague  today,  and  the  amount  which 
would  probably  have  been  expended  .  .  .  ,  will  be  appro- 
priated to  the  purchase  of  one  thousand  rubber  blankets, 
to  be  presented  to  the  Second  Regiment."'"  Thorndike  C. 
Jameson,"  who  had  been  appointed  Chaplain,  received 
gifts  of  money  for  the  benefit  of  the  enlisted  menj^"  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Carmody  presented  the  Roman  Catholic  soldiers 
with  "handsomely  clasped  prayer  books"  on  behalf  of 
Bishop  McFarland.'"  And  on  the  day  before  the  departure 
from  Camp  Burnside,  Mr.  Sanford  of  Seekonk  gave  Co.  D 
eleven  cans  of  milk,  which  the  boys  acknowledged  with 
"three  times  three  and  a  tiger."^^ 

By  the  seventh  of  June  the  companies  had  all  been 
mustered  into  the  army  of  the  United  States — "the  second 
three  years  regiment  from  New  England,"^"  and,  "So  care- 


Lt.-Col.,  July  22,  1861  ;  resigned  to  become  Col.  4th  R.  I.,  June  12,  1862. 
Bartlett, '199-206. 

''Edward  H.  Sears  of  Providence:  Student  at  Brown,  1858-61;  1st 
Lt.  Co.  D,  June  6,  1861;  Capt.,  July  22,  1861;  resigned  to  become 
1st  Lt.  R.  I.  Light  Artillery.  Son  of  President  Barnas  Sears  of  Brown 
University. 

^"  The  Providence  Daily  Post,  June  1,  1861,  hereinafter  cited  as  Post. 

^^  Thorndike  C.  Jameson  of  Providence:  Chaplain,  June  11,  1861; 
Major,  Dec.  13,  1862;  resigned,  Jan.  8,  1863. 

^"  The  Providence  Daily  Journal,  fune  20,  1861,  hereinafter  cited  as 
Journal. 

^'^  Journal,  June  12,  1861. 

^*  Journal,  ]unc  18,  1861. 

^°  Woodbury,   1  7.  There  is  a  controversy  as  to  whether  the  First  or 


CIVIL   WAR   LETTERS   OF    WILLIAM    AMES  77 

ful  had  been  the  enlistments  by  the  several  commandants 
and  the  inspection  of  the  regimental  officer,  that  none 
were  rejected."^''  The  next  day  when  they  moved  from 
Exchange  Place  up  Westminster  and  High  Streets  to 
Camp  Burnside  on  the  Dexter  Training  Ground,  the 
Journal  proudly  declared  that  "they  presented  a  very  fine 
appearance,  and  were  much  commended  for  their  solid  and 
soldierly  appearance."^' 

Every  detail  of  camp  life  had  an  absorbing  interest  for 
the  public.  The  newspapers  were  filled  with  items  such  as 
the  arrival  from  New  York  "by  propeller"  of  840  muskets 
and  "150  light  artillery  sabres j""  the  furnishing  of  two 
havelocks  to  each  man,  "one  to  protect  the  head  and  face 
against  the  heat  of  the  sun,  the  other  to  be  worn  in  the 
rain  5  "^''  the  presentation  of  "Burnside  breech-loading  car- 
bines, ...  a  very  effective  w^eapon,  manufactured  by  the 
Bristol  Fire  Arms  Co.,  No.  116  Dorrance  St."  to  the 
officers  of  Co.  Cj~"  and  the  consumption  of  250  gallons  of 
clam  chowder  on  Friday,  June  20."' 

At  evening  dress-parade  on  June  12,  Mayor  Jabez  C. 
Knight""  on  behalf  of  the  ladies  of  Providence  presented 
"the  colors — a  national  ensign,  a  regimental  flag,  and  the 
proper  guidons — "  to  Capt.  Nelson  Viall's  color  Co.  C 
and  "pleciged  the  members  to  see  that  no  traitor's  hand 
ever  profanely  wrested  them  from  their  custody.""' 

Second  Massachusetts  was  the  first  three-year  regiment  from  New  England. 
In  either  case  the  2d  R.  1.  was  the  second.  C/.  Alonzo  H.  Quint,  The 
Record  of  the  Second  Massachusetts  Injantry  (Boston,  1867),  2  In. 

^'  Journal^  }une  6,  1  S6  1 . 

^''  Journal,' ]\x\\<i  10,  1861. 

^"^  Pot,  June  3,  1861. 

'^'^  Journal,  June  14,  1861.  A  havelock  is  a  light  cloth  cover  for  the 
cap  and  is  worn  around  the  neck.  It  is  named  for  Sir  Henry  Havelock,  a 
British  General  in  the  Indian  mutinv. 

''^Journal,  June  19,  1861.   This  was  the  rifle  invented  bv  Burnside. 

^1  Po//,  June  15,  1861. 

~- Woodbury,  21-22.  Jabez  C.  Knight  was  Mavor  of  Providence, 
18  59-64.    He  was  for  47  years  a  Trustee  of  Butler  Hospital. 

'''Journal,  June    13,    1861.    Nelson  Viall  of  Providence  served  as  a 


78  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

These  evening  parades  attracted  thousands  but  the 
papers  noticed  that  "The  object  of  the  encampment,  to 
accustom  the  soldiers  to  the  details  of  camp  duty,  is  most 
industriously  pursued.  Everything  is  conducted  according 
to  the  formal  regulations  of  the  army."'*  Rhode  Island's 
pride  rose  when  it  appeared  that  the  daily  drills  were 
"perceptibly  improving  the  troops.""^  But  everything  did 
not  go  right.  The  night  before  departure  a  deserter  had  to 
be  drummed  out  of  camp.  "He  was  stripped  of  his  uni- 
form, then  marched  the  length  of  the  parade  with  two 
soldiers  in  the  rear  with  their  bayonets  pointed  to  his 
person,  and  a  file  of  soldiers  besides.""'' 

Shortly  after  3  P.  M.,  on  Wednesday,  June  19,  the  2d 
Regiment  struck  its  tents  and  "In  a  few  minutes  the  canvas 
cones,  which  had  somewhat  resembled  a  good  sized  village 
laid  out  with  more  than  usual  regularity,"  all  disappeared. 
Each  soldier  in  line  carried  a  knapsack  containing  his 
"kit,"  weighing  20-25  pounds,  a  musket  weighing  13 
pounds,  a  haversack  for  his  provisions,  a  canteen  and  a 
cup.^'  The  column  paused  in  Exchange  Place  to  hear  a 
brief  address  by  Bishop  Clark"*'  and  then  embarked  on 
the  steamer  State  of  Maine.  "The  troops  were  in  fine 
spirits,  and  as  they  left  rounds  of  cheers  broke  forth, 
aroused  by  the  vast  throng  on  the  wharf.""'  Next  day's 
Post  announced  editorially  that  Rhode  Island  had  sent 
another  regiment  of    1000   "true-hearted  men   to  battle 


volunteer  in  the  Mexican  War.  First  Lt.  1st  R.  I.,  April  18,  1861  ;  Capt. 
Co.  C,  2dR.  I.,  June  1,  1861;  Major,  July  22,  1861;  Lt.-Col,  June  12, 
1862;  Col.,  Dec.  13,  1862;  resigned,  Jan.  2  5,  1863.  Bartlett,  3  39-343. 

^*  Journal,  June  14,   1861. 

'^  Journal,  June  15,  1  86 1 . 

-^Journal,  June  20,  1861. 

-'Post,  June  20,  1861. 

^^  Thomas  M.  Clark,  Yale  '31,  Protestant  Episcopal  Bishop  of  Rhode 
Island,  1854-1903.  Member  of  the  Sanitary  Commission.  For  many 
appreciations  of  his  distinguished  career,  see  Journal,  Sept.  8,  9,  1  0,  1903. 

-^Journal,  June  20,  1861. 


CIVIL   WAR   LETTERS   OF   WILLIAM    AMES  79 

for  the  cause  of  the  Union,  and  for  the  integrity  of  the 
Constitution,"^" 

Thursday  the  Regiment  disembarked  at  Elizabethtown, 
New  Jersey,  and  transferred  to  22  passenger  and  5 1  freight 
cars.  Routed  via  Harrisburg,  to  avoid  the  change  at  Havre 
de  Grace,  it  was  Friday,  at  8  P.  M.  before  the  train 
reached  Baltimore.  Trouble  was  anticipated  because  the 
6th  Massachusetts  and  other  regiments  had  been  attacked 
while  crossing  the  city.  But  the  2d  Rhode  Island  led  by 
Governor  Sprague  and  the  band  passed  through  the  town, 
the  JournaPs  correspondent  reporting  that  "it  was  warmly 
cheered  at  every  step  by  the  crowds  in  the  streets  and  the 
people  from  the  houses,"'^ 

Ames  took  the  first  opportunity  to  write  home. 

Camp  Clark  June  25/61 
Dear  Mother 

I  received  your  very  welcome  letter  this  evening. 
We  had  a  very  tedious  ride  for  forty  eight  hours. 
At  last  a'fter  much  fatigue  we  arrived  in  Baltimore. 
I  was  very  much  surprised  and  at  the  same  time  very 
much  rejoiced  to  find  father  in  the  depot.'"  We  passed 
through  the  city  with  little  or  no  interruption  with 
the  exception  now  and  then  a  cheer  for  Jeff.,  and  a  few 


'■"'  Post,  ]uwc  20,  1861. 

^^  Jour/ial,  June  28,  1  861.  Under  his  pen  name  "Tockwotton,"  Chap- 
lain Jameson  wrote  that  the  crowd  in  the  streets  had  "much  of  a  peculiar 
freeness  and  impertinence  of  fnamier — but  the  only  insulting  demonstra- 
tion that  I  heard  was  a  shout  for  Jeff  Davis  bv  a  single  person.  But  he  was 
instantly  knocked  down  by  a  bystander  and  there  the  matter  ended."  Press, 
June  27,  1861. 

^^  The  2d  R.  I.  was  accompanied  by  Governor  Sprague,  Bishop  Clark, 
Judge  Samuel  Ames,  John  R.  Bartlett  (Secretarv  of  State),  Mavor  Knight 
and  Colonels  William  Goddard  and  John  A.  Gardner  of  the  Governor's 
staff. 

William  Goddard,  Brown  '46,  was  a  member  of  the  First  Light 
Infantry.  On  June  10,  he  was  temporarily  appointed  Lt.-Col.,  2d  R.  I. 
and  served  until  the  Regiment  left  for  Washington,  When  Gen.  Burnside 


80  RHoni':  island  historical  society 

bricks  thrown  at  the  baggage  wagons.  Our  numbers 
no  doubt  kept  them  from  attacking  us.  We  arrived  in 
Washington  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning.  .  .  .^'^ 

Father  no  doubt  has  given  you  an  account  of  our 
camp  as  he  was  present  at  the  services  on  Sunday  and 
heard  the  bishop's  sermon.  ...  At  present  we  are 
about  all  down  with  that  disease  which  is  so  prevalent 
here,  brought  on  by  drinking  the  water  in  these  regions 
which  contains  a  great  deal  of  lime.  ...  I  am  going 
into  town  this  morning  to  get  a  bath.  .  .  . 

Yesterday  [June  24]  all  the  R.  I.  troops  marched 
in  review  before  Gen.  Scott  and  the  President,  who 
were  standing  upon  the  steps  of  the  White  House, 
the  old  Gen.  looks  a  little  the  worse  for  wear  but  is 
a  very  fine  looking  man  in  his  old  age.  The  President 
is  very  much  changed  since  he  was  in  Providence"  as 
he  now  has  a  very  black  beard  and  is  very  easy  in  his 
manners  such  as  they  are.  .  .  ." 

This  was  written  on  a  carpet  bag.  .  .  . 

Your  affec  son 

W'"  Ames 

"Galen"  reported  to  the  Press  that  the  2d  Regiment, 
"having  had  the  experience  of  a  camp  in  Providence,  .  .  . 

succeeded  Gen.  Pope  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  (1862) 
he  called  Goddard  to  be  his  aide-de-camp,  as  Colonel  of  Volunteers. 

John  A.  Gardner  of  Pawtucket,  Brown  '52,  was  Clerk  of  the  Superior 
Court,  1855-65;  legal  advisor  of  A.  &  W.  Sprague,  1860-64;  U.  S. 
District  Attorney,  1871-77.  Bio.  Cyr.,  520. 

^^  Henry  A.  DeWitt,  Engineer,  1st  R.  I.,  who  laid  out  Camp  Sprague, 
wrote  the  Journal:  "Our  unseasonable  reveille  of  Saturdav  morning 
brought  upon  the  parade  ground  a  thousand  unwashed,  unkempt,  sleepy, 
growling  men,  trying  to  make  believe  glad  to  meet  their  comrades  in  arms 
of  the  2d  regiment,  but  inwardly,  if  not  outwardly,  wishing  that  the  train 
had  delayed  its  coming  until  after  sunrise.  Nevertheless  we  drew  up  in 
line  and  cheered  with  tolerable  vivacitv  from  right  to  left,  as  the  dusty 
wayfarers  tiled  by."  Journal^  June  26,   1861. 

^*  Abraham  Lincoln,  a  candidate  for  the  Republican  nomination,  spoke 
in  Railroad  Hall  in  the  old  depot  to  a  large  and  enthusiastic  audience  on 
February  28,  1860.   Journal,  Feb.  29,  1860. 


CIVIL   WAR   LETTERS  OF   WILLIAM   AMES  81 

had  less  confusion  and  difficulty  in  settling  down  'than 
the  1st.'"'' 

Ames  wrote  his  mother,  June  26: 

"I  am  at  last  settled  down  in  my  quarters,  which  are 
situated  in  a  beautiful  grove  [Gale's  Woods]  about  one 
mile  and  a  quarter  from  Washington."^'    The  only  fault 

^^  Another  account  of  this  review  by  "DeWitt"  was  published  in  the 
Journal,  June  29,  1861. 

"The  2nd  regiment  set  forth  ...  at  5  P.  M.  on  Monday  followed 
immediately  by  the  1st,  each  with  its  band,  the  two  batteries  of  light 
artillery  closing  the  rear.  An  impressive  sight  it  was,  and  a  proud  day  for 
little  Rhody,  for  over  two  thousand  of  her  sons,  in  broad  platoons,  with 
steady  step,  thoroughly  equipped,  armed  in  great  measure  with  weapons 
invented  by  her  own  citizens,  marched  through  Pennsylvania  Avenue  to 
the  White  House.  The  column  passed  in  at  one  gate,  round  the  semicircle 
passing  the  portico,  where  stood  the  President  with  a  few  friends,  and 
out  the  other  gate.  Thence  the  march  was  continued  a  few  squares  to  the 
west,  to  the  residence  of  Gen.  Scott.  Standing  at  the  curb-stone,  with  head 
uncovered,  surrounded  by  his  staff,  the  veteran  gazed  with  pride  upon 
our  sturdy  battalions  as  men  to  be  trusted  in  a  perilous  hour.  Nothing  of 
the  prestige  won  by  Rhode  Island  has  been  lost  since  this  ampler  display 
of  her  resources." 

The  expression  "armed  in  great  measure  with  weapons  invented  by  her 
own  citizens"  refers  to  the  Burnside  breech-loading  rifle,  invented  by 
Ambrose  E.  Burnside  (C/.  notes  2  and  20)  and  the  rifled  cannon  invented 
by  Gen.  Charles  T.  James,  U.'S.  Senator,  1851-57,  founder  of  the 
Atlantic  DeLaine  mill  at  Olnevville,  History  of  Washington  and  Kent 
Counties  (New  York,  1  889),  I'l  5  7. 

"DcWitt"  reported  to  the  Journal,  July  12,  that  Gen.  James  was  at 
Camp  Sprague  "to  look  after  his  noisy  pets,  the  rifled  cannon,"  of  which 
the  2d  Battery  had  a  full  complement.  A  few  days  later  Gen.  James  called 
on  Lincoln  who  told  his  "old  law  associate"  Henry  C.  Whitney:  "  'Well  as 
James  makes  canni?ig  [cannon] ,  I  reckon  1  must  see  him.'  "  But  the  after- 
noon passed  without  James  being  mentioned  and  "Whitney  held  suspicions 
that  General  James's  having  canning  to  sell  was  a  botheration  to  the  Presi- 
dent." Carl  Sandburg,  Abraham  Lincoln,  The  War  Years  (New  York, 
1939),  I,  310,  hereinafter  cited  as  Sandburg.  Gen.  James  was  killed  by  an 
explosion  of  one  of  his  guns  at  Sag  Harbor,  Long  Island,  October  1  7,  1  862. 

^•^  Pr^w,  June  26,  1861. 

^'  "Many  of  the  men  go  daily  into  the  city  and  roam  at  large  over  the 
public  grounds  and  through  the  public  buildings  and  all  places  of  interest." 
Press,  ]vi\y  6,  1861. 


82  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

we  find  ...  is  the  entire  absence  of  any  stream  of  water 
deep  enough  to  bathe  in.  Our  water  works  consist  of  a 
miserable  little  brook  just  back  of  the  camp  which  is  kept 
entirely  clouded  by  the  frequent  washing  of  dirty  shirts. 
.  .  .  You  can  judge  what  our  means  for  bathing  two 
thousand  men  are.  We  have  our  cooking  department  nicely 
arranged  so  that  we  are  living  like  human  beings." 

"The  weather  still  continues  to  be  very  hot  indeed 
[Ames  wrote  his  father  June  28].  But  you  should  see  us 
after  dinner  lieying  [sic]  upon  our  camp  beds  beneath 
the  tall  trees  smoking  our  pipes  and  thinking  of  nothing. 
It  is  truly  the  laziest  life  a  man  can  lead.  We  are  all 
impatient  to  get  into  Virginia  and  have  a  brush  with  the 
rebels.  As  you  remarked  when  you  were  here  it  seems 
more  like  a  giant  picnic  than  the  encampment  of  a  large 
army." 

In  response  to  his  mother's  request  for  a  sketch  of  camp 
life  he  wrote: 

"We  rise  at  five  o'clock  at  which  time  the  'Reveille'  is 
sounded,  after  performing  our  'devotions'  and  other  nec- 
essary duties  we  prepare  for  breakfast  or  in  other  words, 
'Peas  upon  a  Trencher.'  We  were  very  lucky  in  finding 
an  excellent  cook  in  our  company  and  we  are  at  present 
living  upon  the  fat  of  the  land.  We  think  it  is  a  good  plan 
to  make  hay  whilst  the  sun  shines,  as  we  expect  to  be 
ordered  off  very  soon  when  we  shall  have  to  feed  on 
'Army  Rations.' 

"The  tent  works  like  a  charm  being  perfectly  wacer 
proof  and  what  with  our  canvass  [sic]  flooring  cloths,  racks 
and  many  other  little  conveniences,  we  have  the  credit  of 
having  the  best  quarters  in  the  field." 

This  was  not  idle  boasting.  On  July  2  he  wrote  his 
father : 

"Last  evening  we  had  one  of  the  most  severe  rain  storms 
that  I  have  ever  seen.  The  water  rushed  through  the  tents 
of  all  those  officers  who  did  not  have  the  forethought  to 
trench  them,  in  a  perfect  torrent.  We  were  more  fortunate 


CIVIL   WAR   LETTERS   OF   WILLIAM    AMES  83 

having  dug  a  deep  trench  around  our  tent  thus  saving  our 
'bacon.'  "^"^ 

On  the  day  after  the  arrival  of  the  2d  Regiment  in 
Camp  Clark,  "Tockwotton"  had  written:  "Both  the  regi- 
ments are  now  united,  and  so  long  as  the  first  remains 
will  form  a  brigade.  This  is  as  we  hoped  it  would  be.  .  .  . 
Brothers  as  of  one  family  and  united  in  spirit  and  in  object, 
it  is  especially  pleasant  to  us  to  be  allowed  to  share  together 
the  pleasures  of  the  camp,  the  toils  of  the  march  and  the 
vicissitudes  of  battle.""^" 

On  July  8  it  was  announced  that  Col.  Burnside's  brigade 
would  also  include  the  2d  New  Hampshire  and  the  71st 
New  York.  This  was  good  news,  for  the  latter  had  become 
friends  of  the  1st  Rhode  Island  on  the  march  to  Annapolis 
Junction. 

T he  troofs  of  Rhode  Ishud  zvere  posted  along 

On  the  road  jroni  Anrtafolis-statiotiy 
As  the  Seventy-first  Regiment,  one  thousand  strong, 

Went  on  in  defense  of  the  nation. 
We^d  been  77Mrching  all  day  in  the  sun^s  scorching  ray, 

With  two  biscuits  each  as  a  ration, 
W Hen  zve  asked  Gov.  Sfrague  to  shozv  us  the  way. 
And  ''''How  many  miles  to  the  JunctionV 
*        *        * 

The  Rhode  Island  boys  cheered  us  on  out  of  sight. 

After  giving  the  following  injunction: 
''''Just  keef  uf  your  courage— you'll  get  there  tonight, 

For  V  is  only  nine  miles  to  the  Junction."^'^ 

4f-  *  * 

At  nineteen,  any  Fourth  of  July  is  an  occasion,  but  the 
first  one  in  camp  was  really  notable: 

"We  commenced  the  day  with  a  grand  review  of  both 
Regts.  by  the  Gov.  and  a  great  concourse  of  people.  .  .  . 
After  the  review  we  marched  back  to  our  grove  where 


38  "Xockwotton"  wrote  the  Press,  [uly  3 :  ''We  have  been  taught  a  lesson 
in  respect  to  the  circum-trenching  of  our  tents."  Press,  Julv  6,  1861. 

^^  Press,  June  29,   1861. 

-"•  "Only  Nine  Miles  to  the  Junction,"  H.  Millard,  Co.  A,  71st  N.  Y., 
Songs  for  the  Soldiers,  arranged  and  edited  by  Frank  Moore  (New  York, 
1  864),  71  ;  Woodbury,  First  R.  I.  Regt.,  23.' 


84  RHODli  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

upon  a  platform  built  upon  barrels  we  heard  Dr.  Wood- 
bury read  the  glorious  Declaration  of  Independence.  Then 
we  had  speeches  from  Major  Ballou^'  and  Father  Quinn'* 
Who  by  the  way  is  a  very  nice  man.  .  ,  . 

"I  wish  you  could  have  seen  the  dinner  table  of  the 
Officers  of  company  D.  It  was  conceded  by  all  to  be  the 
best  ...  I  will  give  you  the  bill  of  fare.  A  beautiful  little 
Roast  Pig  nice  mashed  potatoes  Onions  Beets,  Tomatoes 
a  little  Claret  and  Champagne.  Our  dessert  consisted  of  a 
very  nice  plum  pudding  and  custard  pies.  You  can  guess 
that  we  are  not  starving. 

"The  amusements  of  the  afternoon  were  completed  by 
the  walking  upon  a  tight  rope  by  Prof.  Sweet  who  gave 
great  pleasure  to  all  the  spectators  and  especially  to  a 
large  crowd  of  dirty  little  niggers  who  had  never  dreamed 
of  any  such  feats.*' 

"The  camp  was  unusually  still  all  day  no  man  being 
allowed  to  go  into  the  city  for  fear  of  getting  drunk."" 

But  the  boyishly  enthusiastic  letter  closes  on  a  serious 
note : 

"This  morning  Col.  Slocum  had  all  the  commissioned 
officers  assembled  in  front  of  the  Marquee  for  instructions 


*^  Sullivan  Ballou  of  Smithtield,  a  lawyer,  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, 185+-56,  Speaker,  1857.  Major,  June  11,  1861;  mortally 
wounded  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861.    Bartlett,' 249-5 1. 

■*-  Father  Thomas  Quinn,  associate  Chaplain,  1st  R.  1.,  was  highly 
regarded  by  all  denominations.  Chaplain  Woodbury  said:  "Our  intercourse 
was  always  of  the  most  cordial  and  friendly  nature.  It  was  another  evi- 
dence of  the  obliteration  of  ecclesiastical  lines  by  the  influence  of  patri- 
otism." Woodbury,  /"//•.(/  R.  I.  Rcgt.,  44. 

Chaplain  Jameson  wrote  the  Press,  "The  Reverend  gentleman  was 
frequently  interrupted  by  well  merited  applause  and  gained  for  himself 
from  his  large  and  delighted  audience,  great  credit,  both  for  the  sentiments 
and  the  eloquent  delivery  of  his  speech."  Press,  July  9,  1861. 

*^  William  E.  Sweet  of  Coventry,  a  private,  Co.  A,  June  5,  1861; 
discharged  on  Surgeon's  certificate,  February  23,  1863.  "Tockwotton" 
wrote,  "Sweet's  performances  were  popular  with  the  troops.  The  Professor 
is  an  intelligent  young  man  and  makes  a  good  soldier."  Press,  July  8,  1861. 

■**  Ames  to  Father  and  Mother,  Camp  Clark,  July  6,  1  861 . 


CIVIL   WAR  LETTERS  OF   WILLIAM   AMES  85 

in  reference  to  our  march.  We  are  to  start  off  Sunday 
noon  for  Virginia  probably  Fairfax.  We  expect  to  have  a 
fight  this  time  after  which  we  w^ill  return  to  our  camp. 
I  do  not  know  that  I  have  any  right  to  tell  you  this  but 
you  can  burn  the  letter  after  you  read  it. 

ps)  I  will  write  when  I  return  and  give  you  an  account 
of  the  proceedings" 

The  order  was  countermanded  and  Ames  wrote  that  all 
was  quiet  in  camp  "except  the  continual  tramp  of  armed 
men  and  the  sound  of  drums.  It  seems  to  me  like  a  great 
picnic  as  I  lay  on  my  camp  bed  under  the  shade  of  the 
large  trees  in  front  of  our  tent.  This  luxury  I  enjoy  every 
day  after  dinner.  .  .  .  The  Quarters  of  the  Band  is  very 
near  to  ours  so  that  we  have  music  from  morn  till  night. 
We  drill  when  the  heat  is  not  too  overpowering.  .  .  ."" 

This  naive  attitude  towards  a  soldier's  life  was  not 
peculiar  to  Lt.  Ames  3  it  was  general  among  officers  and 
privates. 

As  is  usual  with  armies,  the  mere  suggestion  of  a  move- 
ment produced  great  activity  among  the  letter  writers. 
"Tockwotton"  wrote: 

"Pens,  ink  and  paper  were  every  where  in  requisition 
[on  Sunday,  July  7].  In  the  tents,  in  all  the  wagons,  on 
the  boxes,  under  the  trees,  on  the  bare  ground,  some  hold- 
ing boards  for  others  to  write  against,  every  where  the 
work  of  heads  and  hands  went  on.  ...  A  most  glorious 
illustration  of  New  England  intelligence,  and  I  never  felt 
prouder  and  happier  at  the  thought  of  our  common  schools 
and  institutions  of  learning."^*' 

The  regulations  of  the  army  required  commissioned 
officers  to  pay  for  any  extra  food,  uniforms  and  servants. 

"  Ames  to  Another,  July  8,  1861. 

***  Press^  July  11,  1  861 .  Writing  materials  were  always  hard  to  obtain. 
Postage  stamps  were  very  scarce.  Ames  was  fortunate  in  having  Congress- 
man George  H.  Browne  of  Gloucester  frank  envelopes  for  him  and  also 
give  him  "a  dose  of  the  medicine  you  advised  him  to  put  in  his  water." 
Ames  to  Father  and  Mother,  July  6,  1861. 


86  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

But  "pay  day"  was  a  variable  date  with  the  result  that 
officers  were  often  very  hard  up.  A  week  after  his  arrival 
in  camp,  Ames  had  written  that  he  "should  like  to  have 
half  of  my  pay  which  is  in  your  hand."  And  later  asked, 
"If  convenient  please  send  that  money  in  small  gold." 
A  "Mint  of  money"  arrived  promptly  but  the  need  passed 
with  the  receipt  of  his  pay,  $89.53.  "Do  n't  you  think 
that  I  can  live  a  month  longer  on  this  pretty  little  sum," 
he  asked  his  mother.*'  Ames  felt  that  his  job  in  the  army 
was  just  the  same  as  any  other  job  and  like  any  other  self- 
respecting  young  man,  he  expected  to  be  self-supporting. 

At  this  distance  of  eighty  years  camp  life  of  this  day 
seems  very  luxurious.  "Tockwotton"  wrote: 

"Thanks  to  the  generous  attention  of  the  Governor, 
the  Rhode  Island  Regiments  are  well  supplied,  and  are 
quite  the  envy  of  the  rest  of  the  army.  It  is  quite  common 
to  hear  the  remark — 'Oh,  yes,  you  Rhode  Islanders  have 
every  thing.'  Commissary  Cole  devotes  himself  to  the 
duties  of  [the  kitchen]  most  unremittingly.  The  immense 
ovens  for  meats,  bread  &c,  as  well  as  spacious  boilers  for 
vegetables,  coffee,  &c,  would  I  imagine  somewhat  astonish 
some  of  your  housekeeping  readers.  .  .  ."""^ 

The  First  Rhode  Island  Detached  Militia  was  called 
to  serve  the  United  States  for  a  three-month  period. 
There  was  some  doubt  about  the  exact  date  its  service 
began  and  as  July  15  approached  the  question  arose  as  to 
when  the  time  was  up.  "Canonicus"  wrote  the  Press , 
July  15,  of  the  discussion  among  the  men  and  of  their 
openly  avowed  desire  to  go  home. 

Ames  reflects  the  opinion  of  the  2d  Regiment: 
"We  are  all  very  desirous  to  have  the    1st  Regt  go 
home  as  the  influence  over  our  men  is  very  bad.  They  are 


''^  Ames  to  Mother,  Jul}-  27,  1861.  The  paymaster  was  supposed  to 
"pay  off"  every  two  months,  cj.  Fred  A.  Shannon,  The  Organization  and 
Administration  oj  the  Union  Ar?n\  (Cleveland,  1928),  I,  244-45. 

•'Vr^i^,  July  18,  1861. 


CIVIL   WAR   LETTERS   OF   WILLIAM    AMES  87 

not  bound  down  by  the  same  strict  laws  that  were  [sic] 
are  made  to  observe.  It  is  allowed  by  every  person  here 
that  we  beat  them  in  marching  and  are  their  equals  in 
everything  else.  I  get  along  very  nicely  with  my  men,  and 
drilling."^" 

*        *        5^ 

Before  proceeding  further  with  the  letters  dealing  with 
the  campaign  of  Bull  Run,  it  is  necessary  briefly  to  review 
the  military  situation.  Barely  thirty  miles  southwest  from 
Washington,  Gen.  Beauregard  with  about  24,000""  men 
was  centered  on  Manassas  Junction  at  the  intersection  of 
the  Manassas  Gap  and  the  Orange  &  Alexandria  railroads. 
Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee  had  decided  that  it  was  strategically 
important  to  the  Confederates  to  hold  the  Junction  if  they 
could,  because  it  controlled  the  two  most  likely  lines  of 
advance  from  Washington — the  one  from  Alexandria  and 
the  other  from  Centreville — and  because  the  line  of  the 
Manassas  Gap  R.  R.  to  the  west  could  be  used  by  the 
Confederate  forces  under  Gen.  Johnston  to  reinforce 
Gqu.  Beauregard.  While  Manassas  Junction  is  on  an  open 
plateau  and  hard  to  defend,  the  winding  stream  of  Bull 
Run — though  in  places  "nothing  more  than  a  glorified 
ditch" — in  the  14  miles  from  its  confluence  with  the 
Occ;^ou"n  at  Union  Mills  Ford  on  the  east  to  Sudley 
Springs  on  the  west  "more  than  covered  any  probable 
crossing  of  an  army  advancing  from  Washington  along 
routes  just  indicated."'^ 

About  60  miles  to  the  WTSt  of  Washington  Gen.  Robert 
Patterson — a  veteran  of  the  War  of  181 2 — with  about 
14,000    men   occupied   Harper's   Ferry   on   the   Potomac 


''■'Ames  to  Father,  July  14,  1861. 

^'^  All  estimates  of  the  numbers  of  men  engaged  are  taken  from  R.  M. 
Johnston's  Bull  Run,  Its  Strategy  and  Tactics  (Boston,  1913),  90-1  13, 
hereinafter  cited  as  Johnston.  This  is  an  excellent  stud\'  and  indispensable 
to  a  non-military  writer  like  }Our  editor. 

"Johnston,  31-38. 


88 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


Harper's  Ferr 

PATTERSON  Cg^.^—sS^'/'^, 
14,000  -^^^  ^         ' 


Situation  ontheNightof 
July  17,1861 


CONFEDERATE      ■ 
FEDERAL    [ZD 


^°  Miles 


K.D.  Johnson 


river  from  which  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  —  who  had 
succeeded  Col.  Thomas  J.  Jackson  —  had  withdrawn  on 
June  15  to  near  Winchester  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 
Patterson's  timidity  had  prevented  him  from  carrying  out 
the  pursuit  planned  by  the  veteran  commander-in-chief, 
Gen.  Winfield  Scott,"  and  the  regiments  near  Washington 
had  made  no  moves.  Most  of  the  three-month  regiments 
were  two  months  oldj  something  had  to  be  done  before 
their  time  was  up.  The  New  York  Tribune  led  the  popular 
clamor  with  the  war-cry,  "On  to  Richmond"  and  the  battle 
of  Bull  Run  was  the  result.  "The  different  regiments  met 
for  the  first  time  as  a  brigade,  on  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday, 
July  16th,  when  they  formed  on  Pennsylvania  Avenue, 
and    immediately    marched    down    to    and    across    Long 


■"'"Scott  was  7  5  years  old.  "What  with  age,  dropsy,  vertigo,  and  old 
bullets  to  carry,  he  could  no  longer  mount  a  horse."  Sandburg,  I,  29. 


CIVIL   WAR   LETTERS   OF   WILLIAM    AMES  89 

Bridge  into  Virginia.""  Also,  the  enemy  was  well  in- 
formed through  the  press  and  by  many  sympathizers  of 
all  the  Federal  plans.  "But  the  country,  not  appreciating 
the  difficulties  .  .  .  ,  demanded  a  forward  movement  .  .  .  ," 
wrote  Woodbury.  "It  was  both  too  early  and  too  latcj  too 
early  for  perfect  discipline  of  the  troops  —  too  late  for 
surprise."'' 

Irving  McDowell,""  but  recently  advanced  from  major 
to  brigadier-general,  was  in  command  of  the  department 
of  Northeastern  Virginia.  In  collaboration  with  Gen. 
Scott  he  worked  out  a  plan  to  advance  in  three  columns 
via  Vienna,  Fairfax  Court  House  and  the  Orange  and 
Alexandria  R.  R.  to  turn  Beauregard's  position  "so  as  to 
cut  off  communications  by  rail  with  the  South,  or  threaten 
to  do  so  sufficiently  to  force  the  enemy  to  leave  his 
entrenchments  to  guard  them." 

In  accordance  with  this  plan  McDowell  moved  on 
Tuesday,  July  16,  and  the  Providence  Evening  Press  of 
the  next  day  carried  a  telegraphic  dispatch  from  Wash- 
ington: "The  Rhode  Island  Regiments,  71st  New  York, 
2d  New  Hampshire  and  the  Marines  marched  over  Long 
Bridge  at  3  o'clock  today,  their  several  bands  playing 
'Dixie.'  Col.  Burnside  rode  by  the  side  of  his  Rhode 
Island  regiments,  literally  loaded  down  with  bouquets." 

Led  by  the  Second  Rhode  Island,  by  the  express  desire 
of  Col.  Slocum, ""  the  column  marched  some  twelve  miles  and 
bivouacked  on  the  ground  that  night  at  Annandale.  The 
next  day  the  Second  Division  moved  into  Fairfax  Court 
House  and  on  the  1  8th  to  Germantown.  Ames'  pencilled 
letter  addressed  to  both  his  father  and  mother  reflects  the 
excitement  of  a  youth  seeing  action  for  the  first  time. 

''■''  Woodburv,  28.  For  a  critique  of  "Staft"  and  Command''  sec  jolm- 
ston,  100-103.' 

''*  Woodbury,  First  R.  I.  Regf.,  72. 

''°  For  an  opinion  of  McDowell's  ability  see  Johnston,  19-21,  and 
James  B.  Fry,  MrDrjzveU  and  Tyler  (New  York,  1  884) ,  hereinafter  cited 
as  Fry. 

^"Woodbury,  28;  Press,  July  18,  1861. 


90  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Capt.  Steere  wishes  Father  if  he  happens  to  see 
Old  Enoch  S  to  tell  him  he  is  well  and  ail  right. 

July  20/61 
Between  Germantown  &  Centreville 

To  my  Dear  Father  &  Mother 

I  have  not  been  able  to  write  for  some  time  on 
account  of  the  hurry  attendant  upon  our  march  into 
Va.  We  had  a  long  march  of  twenty-three  miles  over 
very  dusty  roads.  The  heat  was  intense,  and  with  forty 
pounds  to  carry  made  it  very  wearisome.  You  have  no 
doubt  heard  of  our  capture  of  Fairfax.  There  was 
about  ten  thousand  rebels  in  possession  of  the  town 
when  we  came  up.  But  with  their  usual  courage  they 
fled  like  chaff  before  a  whirlwind  The  2d  Reg  led  the 
Brigade  and  was  the  first  in.  Co  D  were  employed 
as  scouts  all  the  way  keeping  about  a  mile  to  the  right 
of  the  Column  in  thick  woods  all  the  way."  It  was 
one  of  the  most  ludicrous  sights  that  I  have  ever  seen 
to  see  the  confusion  in  which  they  left  their  equip- 
ments and  a  great  part  of  their  property.  The  men  in 
our  Co  got  a  great  deal  of  plunder.  The  houses  and 
shops  of  the  Secessionists  were  broken  open  and  given 
up  to  be  plundered  by  the  soldiers.  Which  was  done 
to  order.  Most  everyone  has  some  relic  of  the  sacking 
of  Fairfax^"  What  gave  the  men  the  most  satisfac- 
tion was  that  the  camp  property  plundered  by  them 


^^  "Tockwotton"  wrote  July  19:  "The  men  must  make  their  way  over 
fences,  walls,  ditches,  &c  also  through  entangled  forest  and  soon  become 
very  weary."  Press,  July  23,   1861. 

^®  "I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  say,"  wrote  "Tockwotton,"  "that  I  was 
not  able  to  trace  anv  excesses  to  the  members  of  the  2d  R.  I."  And  a 
private  letter,  dated  Fairfax  Court  House  July  17,  from  an  unnamed 
officer  in  Co.  C  which  was  printed  in  the  Journal,  July  20,  read:  "Some 
of  our  troops  [in  other  brigades]  have  helped  themselves  to  everything 
portable.  There  is  an  old  law  and  order  feeling  among  us,  which  respects 
even  the  rights  of  an  enemv.  ...  I  am  sorrv  for  any  trespass,  which 
brings  reproach  to  our  arm\-  without  discrimination  of  parties."  Journal, 
July  20,  1861. 


CIVIL    WAR   LETTERS   OF   WILLIAM    AMES  91 

belonged  to  the  famous  Palmetto  and  Brooks  Guards 
of  Charleston,  S.  C/"  who  are  considered  the  flower 
of  chivalry  in  the  South.  I  have  got  a  body  belt 
belonging  to  one  of  the  Palmetto  Guards  with  a  large 
Palmetto  tree  on  the  plate  marked  1776,  I  also  got 
a  powder  flask  lots  of  ammunition  One  of  our  men 
got  a  nice  watch  in  one  of  the  knapsacks.  It  is  very 
funny  to  see  the  little  niggers  who  followed  our  camp 
from  Washington  each  with  a  new  suit  of  cloths  [sic] 
and  a  knapsack  upon  their  back  marked  Palmetto 
Guards.  Such  was  their  haste  in  flying  that  they  threw 
away  their  blankets  that  were  upon  their  backs  and 
even  the  coats  on  their  backs.  We  brought  no  tents 
with  us  each  man  taking  only  what  he  could  carry  on 
his  back.  Last  night  we  slept  in  an  open  plain  the 
starry  heavens  for  our  roof  About  two  in  the  morning 
it  commenced  raining  you  can  imagine  the  comfort  in 
such  a  situation  of  a  soldiers  life.  After  staying  all 
night  in  Fairfax  we  marched  to  Germantown  famous 
in  the  Revolution""  We  expect  soon  to  march  upon 
Manassas  and  give  them  a  thrashing  if  we  can  find 
them  anywhere.  Prisoners  are  being  brought  in  every 
day  and  the  [sic]  all  have  a  very  miserable  appear- 
ance This  morning  just  below  the  camp  of  the  New 
York  Reg  three  Secessionists  who  had  been  captured 
and  had  taken  the  oath  were  recaptured  and  having 
broken  the  oath  were  hung  by  the  authoritys   [sic] 


■''"  A  telegraphic  dispatch  to  the  Press  printed  on  the  front  page — the 
first  Rhode  Island  newspaper  to  put  the  war  on  page  one — "Numerous 
trophies  were  brought  to  Washington  this  afternoon  including  the  Com- 
missariat tent  of  the  3rd  South  Carolina  regiment,  guns,  coats,  hats,  and 
Palmetto  buttons,  the  latter  manufactured  in  New  York."  Press,  Julv 
19,  1861. 

"To  judge  from  the  uniforms  about  the  camp,  we  would  seem  to  have 
many  of  the  Palmetto  Guard  and  other  crack  secession  regiments  in  our 
midst,"  wrote  "DeWitt."  Journal,  July  22,  1861. 

Ames  is  mistaken.  Germantown  which  was  famous  in  the  Revolution 
is  in  Pennsylvania. 


92  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

I  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  the  process  for  the 
first  time 

Give  my  love  to  all 

Your  affec  son 

\Vm  Ames 

This  was  written  upon  a  Va  fence  rail  of  the  rough- 
est sort 

I  will  write  as  soon  as  I  can 

I  am  very  well  indeed 

You  will  find  an  envelope  enclosed  it  was  taken 
from  the  knapsack  by  your  humble  servant  of  one  of 
the  Palmetto  Guards  at  Fairfax 

Please  keep  the  envelope 

At  the  time  he  was  writing  his  parents  Ames  did  not 
know  that  Gen.  McDowell  had  made  up  his  mind  to  attack 
and  had  issued  orders  to  begin  the  advance  at  2  A.  M., 
Sunday  July  21,  1861. 

{To  he  continued) 


Additional  Notes  on  the  Oris^in  of 

the  Artistic  Motives  of  the 

Design  of  the  Ensign 

By  Howard  M.  Chapin 

The  motive  of  the  stripes  in  the  United  States  flag  (in 
the  stars  and  stripes  of  1777)  was  derived*  from  the 
stripes  in  the  so-called  Grand  Union  flag  which  was  first 
adopted  as  the  Ensign  of  the  United  Continental  Colonies 
in  America  in  December  1775. 

The  earlier  English  ensigns  of  the  time  of  Elizabeth 
were  striped  and  the  ensign  with  the  plain  red  field  did  not 

'^Providence  Sunday  Joiirnal,  June  9,  1929,  page  entitled  "Rhode 
Island's  Part  in  the  U.  S.  Flag,"  subsequently  reprinted  as  the  origin  of 
"The  Artistic  Motives  in  the  United  States  Flag." 


DESIGN   OF  THE  ENSIGN  93 

come  into  use  until  later,  probably  the  time^  of  James  I. 

The  East  India  Company  flag  and  ensign'  of  1701  had 
thirteen  red  and  white  horizontal  stripes/ 

During  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  the  English  ensigns 
often  had  striped  fields/  Perrin,  plate  ix,  illustrates  six 
of  these. 

W.  G.  Perrin,  the  careful  and  scholarly  student  of  flags, 
states  in  his  "British  Flags"  1922  that  the  ensign  came^ 
into  use  about  1574.  He  doubtless  meant  as  one  of  the 
suit  of  flags,"  usually  flown  by  ships. 

The  reason  for  the  adoption  of  stripes  in  the  design  of 
the  early  English  Ensigns  of  the  time  of  Elizabeth  is  not 
known.  Owing  to  the  meagerness  of  the  records  of  that 
period  it  may  not  be  able  to  be  determined  with  certainty 
whether  the  adoption  of  the  stripes  was  the  accidental  result 
of  some  naval  exigency  or  whether  it  harks  back  to  the 
livery  colors  of  heraldry.' 

At  present,  contemporary  pictures  give  us  our  only  clues. 

In  "Sequitur  celebritas  et  pompa  funeris"  (of  Sir  Philip 
Sidney)  by  Thomas  Lant  printed  in  London  in  1587  "The 


'  W.  G.  Perrin's  "British  Flags,"  115. 

'Perrin,  130. 

^  John  Beaumont's  "The  Present  State  of  the  Universe,"  edition  of 
1701  shows  thirteen  stripes.    Cf.  Perrin,   130. 

*  Perrin,  1  1  5  and  notes.  An  Ensign  supplied  by  James  Wharton  of 
Philadelphia  Dec.  22,  1775  to  the  Committee  of  Congress  (which  was 
fitting  out  the  Continental  Navy)  was  a  Union  flag  with  1  3  green  and 
red  stripes.  P//Z'.  of  Col.  Soc.  of  Mass.,  32,  p.  523.  At  that  period  Union 
flag  meant  with  a  union  of  the  crosses  in  the  canton,  not  what  Union 
flag  means  now. 

'Perrin,  p.  115. 

^  However  in  his  frontispiece  he  shows  an  English  ship  of  about  1  545 
flying  an  Ensign — which  is  an  heraldic  banner.  This  may  be  considered 
properly  mereh'  a  decoration  for  a  special  occasion.  This  ship  has  three 
other  similar  staffs  erected  at  random  amidship  and  a  jack  staff,  years 
before  the  jack  as  such  came  into  use  as  one  the  usual  "suit  of  colors"  of 
a  ship.  These  flags  are  all  heraldic  in  character  and  origin.  The  flag  at 
the  foretopmast  head  is  similar  in  design  to  the  one  on  the  ensign  staff. 

^  "The  Artistic  Motives  in  the  United  States  Flag"  bv  H.  M.  Chapin, 
1930. 


94  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

Black  Pynnes"  which  brought  home  Sidney's  body  from  the 
Low  Countries  is  shown  flying  a  striped  ensign**  on  the 
ensign  staff  and  a  similar  striped  flag  at  the  mizzen  top 
mast  head.  These  flags  do  not  contain  the  canton  with  the 
cross.^ 

The  fact  that  the  Black  Pynnes  which  was  in  fact  a 
maritime  catafalque,  is  decorated  with  the  arms  of  Sir 
Philip  Sydney  and  those  of  his  ancestors  indicate  that  the 
person  who  had  charge  of  its  decoration  was  acquainted 
with  heraldry.  In  this  case  the  striped  flag  would  doubtless 
be  of  the  livery  colors  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney.  The  livery 
colors  would  of  course  be  "insignia"  of  Sir  Philip  and  the 
word  ensign  is  clearly  derived  from  the  word  insignia. 

The  word  "colours"  was  only  applied  specifically  to 
the  ensign  in  the  Eighteenth,  Seventeenth  and  Sixteenth 
centuries. 

Barrett^"  in  the  theory  and  Practike  of  Modern  Warres, 
1698  says  "We  Englishmen  do  call  (Ensigns)  of  late 
colours  by  reason  of  the  variety  of  colours  they  be  made 
of,  whereby  they  may  be  the  better  noted  and  known  to 
the  company."  Barrett  is  speaking  of  military  ensigns 
rather  than  maritime  ensigns,  but  it  seems  probable  that 
the  reason  he  gives  for  ensigns  being  called  colours  is  merely 
his  own  guess  or  opinion  and  not  the  result  of  historical 
or  antiquarian  research.  It  seems  extremely  probable  from 
the  decoration  of  the  Black  Pynnes  that  the  reason  that  the 
Ensigns  ( insignia )  were  called  colours  was  because  they 
were  the  "livery  colours"  ( i.  e.  insignia)  of  the  owner  of 
the  ship,  or  in  the  case  of  Sir  Philip,  with  the  livery  colors 
of  the  decedent. 

Thus  the  origin  of  the  design  of  the  stripes  would  seem 
to  hark  back  very  definitely  to  heraldry. 

There   is   another   sixteenth    century   picture    of   great 

*  Illustrated  in  Chatterton's  Sailing  Ships,  fig.  54. 

^  Hence  similar  to  the   ensigns  presumably   used   by   the   American 
Colonies  between  July  4,  1776  and  June  14,  1777.   See  Nat.  Geo.  Mag., 
Oct.  1917,  flag  404.' 
'°  Perrin,  6. 


DESIGN   OF  THE   ENSIGN  95 

importance  to  this  study.  It  is  the  illustration  of  Sir 
Francis  Drake's  ship  in  Thomas  Greepes  biography  of  Sir 
Francis  Drake,  printed  in  1587.  On  the  ensign  staff  is  the 
ensign  which  is  an  heraldic  banner,  thus  tying  the  maritime 
ensign  still  closer  to  heraldry.  It  is  the  quartered  coat  of 
Howand,  Brotherton,  Warren  and  Mawbray,  with  over 
all  a  mullet  for  difference.  These  were  the  arms  of  Charles, 
Lord  Howard,  Baron  Howard  of  Effingham,  Lord  High 
Admiral  of  England  and  later  Earl  of  Nottingham.  This 
boat  was  doubtless  the  galleon^""  "White  Lion"  (named 
from  the  supporters  in  Lord  Howard's  arms).  Lord 
Howard  contributed  this  vessel  to  the  expedition,  which 
carried  the  armorial  banner  of  its  owner  on  its  ensign  staff. 

While  we  have  not  as  yet  enough  data  to  establish  con- 
clusively the  development  of- the  ensign  in  the  time  of 
Elizabeth,  we  do  now  know  enough  to  have  a  general  idea 
of  what  must  have  taken  place. 

Perrin"  tells  us  that  the  ensign  came  into  use  about 
1 574.  He  adds  in  a  footnote  "In  the  earlier  ensigns  toward 
the  end  of  Elizabeth's  reign^"  the  stripes  were  sometimes 
diagonal  and  different  designs  appear  to  have  been  used 
to  distinguish  individual  ships  much  as  ensigns  were  used 
to  distinguish  regiments  on  shore. 

It  seems  probable  that  the  hrst  stage  in  the  development 
of  the  ensign  was  when  the  armorial  insignia  of  the  owner 
was  used  as  in  the  case  of  Lord  Howard's  galleon. 

The  second  stage  would  seem  to  be  the  ensign  striped 
with  the  livery  colors  as  the  insignia  instead  being  the 
heraldic  banner.  This  we  see  in  the  case  of  Sidney's  Black 
Pinnace. 

The  fact  that  these  two  stages  are  illustrated  in  books 
printed  in  1587  does  not  militate  against  this  theory  because 
in  the  first  place  the  two  different  fundamental  forms 
doubtless  existed  in  use  contemporaneously  for  some  time, 
for  such  changes  develop  slowly  and  in  the  second  place 

'"^  Benson,  E.  F.    "Sir  Francis  Drake,"  pp.  208-209. 

''P.  115. 

'^She  died  in  1603. 


96  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

the  book  relating  to  Sidney  was  dealing  with  the  preceding 
year  and  the  book  dealing  with  Drake  was  dealing  with 
several  years  earlier  for  the  most  part.  Taking  into  account 
human  inaccuracies,  this  of  course  would  not  prove  the 
sequence  but  as  certainly  it  would  not  disprove  it. 

The  reason  for  the  change  from  the  heraldic  banner  to 
the  ensign  with  stripes  (presumably  the  livery  colours) 
was  probably  due  primarily  to  the  question  of  visibility. 

Flying  in  a  light  breeze,  or  hanging  limp  in  a  calm  the 
design  of  an  armorial  banner  used  as  an  ensign  becomes 
practically  indistinguishable.  A  series  of  stripes  can  be 
identified. 

On  shore  for  reasons  of  visibility  or  distinguishability 
a  colonel  usually  placed  a  motive  from  his  arms  on  the 
regimental  ensign  instead  of  his  arms  or  instead  of  using 
his  armorial  banner  (such  as  those  hung  in  St.  George's 
Chapel,  Windsor  castle). 

The  striped  Ensign  did  not  give  a  clue  to  the  nationality 
of  the  boat.  Sometimes  the  red  cross  of  St.  George  (the 
recognized  emblem  of  England )  was  surcharged  over  the 
whole  flag.  Such  a  flag  or  ensign  is  shown  by  Perrin, 
Plate  ix.  No.  5.''' 

It  was  probably  tried  at  this  period  to  place  the  red 
cross  in  the  head  of  the  ensign  as  it  was  carried  in  the 
pendants,  but  the  difference  in  shapes  would  make  the 
cross  too  elongated  and  doubtless  also  too  hard  to  see.  A 
flag  of  this  type^''  was  drawn  for  the  King  of  France  and 
called  the  flag  of  the  English  people.  Yet  as  it  appears  in 
no  contemporary  English  book,  it  was  probably  merely  the 
result  of  the  imagination  of  some  French  herald. 

By  using  only  the  upper  part  of  the  head  of  the  Ensign, 
the  canton  was  obtained  and  was  very  satisfactory  as  over 
300  years  of  use  prove. 

The  Ensign  with  the  canton  (the  head  charged  with  the 
cross)  would  seem  to  be  the  third  stage  in  its  development. 
Perrin  plate  ix  shows  several  of  these  of  the  time  of 
Elizabeth  and  of  James  I.  Five  with  striped  field  and 
three  with  single  color  fields,  the  latter  of  the  time  of 
James  I. 

^"^  Plate  ix,  No.  5. 
"  Desjardins,  p.  34. 


-  '»^r.:.mg%:'''^'~i&Jiiif: 


30430      3043;' 

Rhode    Island 

Historical     Society 

Collections 


Vol.  XXXIV 


JANUARY,  1941 


No.   1 


FL.AGON    MADE   FOR   TRINITY   CHURCH,   NEWPORT, 
BY   BENJAMIN    BRENTON    (173.^) 


Issued  Quarterly 


68  Waterman  Street,  Providence,  Rhode  Iseand 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


The  Kay  Bequest 

by  William  Davis  Miller 


Cover  &  1 


Civil  War  Letters  of  William  Ames 
by  William  Greene  Roelker 


List  of  Members 


25 


Partial  List  of  Accessions  to  the  Library 


31 


RHODE 
HISTORICAL 


ISLAND 

SOCIETY 


COLLECTIONS 


Vol.  XXXIV 


JANUARY,   1941 


No.   1 


Charles  F.  Stearns,  President  Robert  T.  Downs,  Treasurer 

William  Davis  Miller,  Secretary        William  G.  Roelker,  Librarian 


The  Society  assumes  no  responsibility  for  the  statements  or  the  opinions 
of  contributors. 


The  Kay  Bequest 

William  Davis  Miller 

One  of  the  outstanding  displays  of  the  recent  exhibition 
held  at  the  Rhode  Island  School  of  Design  in  celebration 
of  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  State  of  Rhode  Island^  November  1 8,  1940, 
was  the  silver  of  the  "Kay  Bequest,"  and  it  was  of  further 
interest  in  view  of  the  fact  that  it  is  the  only  recorded  time 
that  these  fine  pieces  have  been  shown  together. 

In  the  year  1702  Nathaniel  Kay  was  sent  to  the  Colony 
of  Rhode  Island  by  Queen  Anne  to  hold  the  office  of  Col- 
lector of  Customs.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  wealth 
and  his  house  at  the  head  of  Touro  Street  in  Newport  was 
reputed  to  have  been  "one  of  the  most  spacious  and  elegent 
private  dwellings  in  the  town."  During  his  life  time  he  was 
ever  a  generous  supporter  of  the  Church  of  England  and 
its  missionaries  sent  out  by  the  Society  of  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts.  As  early  as  1713  he  was  a 
member  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  to  which  he  not 
only  gave  of  his  time  and  interest  but  also  of  his  wealth. 
However,  it  was  not  only  to  Trinity  Church  that  he  ex- 
pressed his  generosity.    He  was  deeply  interested  in  the 


J 
a 


si 


< 


THE   KAY  BEQUEST  3 

advancement  of  the  Anglican  Church  in  the  Colony  and  its 
three  other  churches,  St.  Paul's  in  Narragansett,  St. 
Michael's  in  Bristol,  and  King's — now  St.  John's — in  Prov- 
idence. To  St.  Michael's,  for  instance,  he  gave  a  bell  which, 
it  is  said,  could  be  heard  in  Pawtuxet  across  the  Bay. 

The  hrst  mention  of  a  gift  of  silver  is  found  in  the  records 
of  Trinity  Church  under  the  date  of  May  14,  1733,  "Voted: 
that  Captain  Richard  Perkin's  legacy  to  the  Church  be  ap- 
propriated for  the  purchase  of  a  flagon  for  the  communion 
table.  Nathaniel  Kay,  Esq.  agreed  to  purchase  another  of 
the  same  value."  This  flagon  made  by  the  Newport  silver- 
smith, Benjamin  Brenton  (1695-1749)  bears  the  follow- 
ing inscription: 

An  Oblation  from  Nathaniel  Kay  a  Pub- 
lican FOR  THE  USE  OF  THE  BlESSED  SaCRAMENT 

in  the  Church  of  England  in  Rhode  Island 
1733  Lux  perpetua  Credentibus  Sola. 

The  following  year  Nathaniel  Kay  died  and  by  his  will 
left  provisions  for  silver  not  only  for  Trinity  Church  but 
also  for  the  three  other  Anglican  Churches  in  the  Colony. 

From  the  avails  of  this  bequest  there  was  made  for  Trin- 
ity a  magnificent  baptismal  basin  by  Daniel  Russell  (worked 
from  1734-50)  of  Newport  which  bore  the  inscription: 
Legatum    Nathanaelis    Kay   Armigeri,    in 

USUM   ECCLESIAE  AnGLICANAE,  IN  NOVO  PORTU, 

IN  Insula  De  Rhode  Island  Anno  Salutis 
1734. 

Trinitv  Church  also  received  a  chalice  made  by  Joseph 
Russell  (1702-80)  of  Bristol. 

To  St.  Michael's  in  Bristol  came  two  flagons,  one  by 
Benjamin  Brenton  and  the  other  by  Joseph  Russell  and  a 
paten  by  Edward  Winslow  of  Boston  (1669-1753).  In 
this  connection  it  may  seem  remarkable  that  a  Boston  silver- 
smith was  employed  under  the  Kay  bequest,  especially  when 
there  were  such  excellent  craftsmen  in  Newport.  However, 
it  must  be  born  in  mind  that  until  1746  Bristol  lay  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts.  Joseph  Russell  may  also 
be  claimed  by  that  colony  since  he  made  the  first  seal  for 


4  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Bristol  County  for  which  he  received  four  pounds,  ten 
shillings  in  1747.  The  design  for  all  these  flagons  was 
apparently  established  by  the  one  made  for  Trinity  Church 
from  the  bequest  of  Richard  Perkin  —  which,  by  the  way, 
bears  no  maker's  mark  —  and  from  its  companion  given  by 
Kay  in  1733.  Each  flagon  bears  an  engraved  inscription 
surrounded  by  a  decorative  cartouche  and  the  other  pieces 
are  engraved  in  a  similar  manner. 

Of  this  fine  silver  unquestionably  the  finest  is  the  mag- 
nificent baptismal  basin  made  by  Daniel  Russell  for  Trinity 
Church  and  which  is  illustrated  on  page  2.  It  appears  to 
be  unique  in  the  records  of  examples  of  colonial  silver. 

It  is  therefore  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  bringing 
together  of  these  remarkable  pieces  of  silver  was  not  only 
an  outstanding  event  to  the  students  of  the  craft  of  the 
colonial  silversmiths  but  was  also  an  evidence  of  the  superior 
skill  achieved  by  those  who  worked  in  the  Colony  of  Rhode 
Island. 


-^  The  first  General  Convention  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  Rhode 
Island  met  at  Newport,  November  18,  1790.  Following  a  sermon  by 
Rev.  William  Smith  (1753-1821),  M.  A.  Aberdeen,  rector  of  Trinity 
Church,  the  Convention  approved  the  revised  Book  of  Common  Prayer 
and  declared  Samuel  Seabury  Bishop  of  the  Church   in  Rhode  Island. 

Bishop  Seabury  (1729-1796),  who  had  been  chosen  Episcopal  Bishop 
of  Connecticut  (1789)  presided  over  both  dioceses  until  his  death.  A 
graduate  of  Yale  (1748),  he  was  ordained  deacon  and  priest  in  London 
(175  3)  and  sent  to  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  by  the  Society  for  the  Propa- 
gation of  the  Gospel. 

Chosen  by  the  clergy  of  Connecticut  as  a  suitable  candidate  for  Epis- 
copal consecration,  Seabury  sailed  for  London  (1783).  The  authorities 
of  the  Church  of  England  believed  themselves  debarred  on  legal  ground 
from  performing  the  rite  and  Seabury  proceeded  to  Aberdeen  where  he 
was  consecrated  by  the  non-juring  Scottish  prelates.  Returning  to  this 
country  he  landed  at  Newport  (1785)  and  shortly  afterwards  he  became 
rector  of  St.  James'  Church,  New  London. 

For  an  Interesting  article  on  the  Episcopal  Diocese  of  Providence  see 
"The  Episcopal  Diocese. —  150  Years,"  Providence  Sunday  Journal, 
November  10,  1940. 

A  scrap  book  illustration  of  the  exhibit  of  church  treasures  has  been 
donated  to  this  societv. 


CIVIL   WAR  LETTERS  OF  WILLIAM   AMES  3 

Civil  War  Letters  of  William  Ames 

From  Brown  University  to  Bull  Run 
Edited  by  William  Greene  Roelker 

{Continued  from  Vol.  XXXIII,  fage  96) 

In  the  opinion  of  R.  M.  Johnston,  Gen.  McDowell  left 
Washington  "with  a  fixed  plan.  He  intended  no  frontal 
attack,  but  to  outflank  the  enemy  j  and  that  the  flanking 
movement  w^as  to  be  towards  the  south,  his  left."*'^ 

But  handicapped  by  the  lack  of  maps  and  experienced 
officers  McDowell  was  uncertain,  and  before  advancing 
from  Centreville  he  decided  to  explore  the  country  for 
himself.  By  the  afternoon  of  July  1  8  he  had  made  up  his 
mind  that  an  advance  on  the  left  was  impracticable.*'^ 
Almost  at  the  same  time  he  learned  that  Gen.  Tyler  had 
been  engaged  along  Bull  Run. 

This  badly  managed  affair,  known  as  "the  skirmish  at 
Blackburn's  Ford,"  was  reported  by  "DeWitt"  to  the 
Journal:  "Gen.  Tyler's  division  had  suddenly  come  upon 
a  masked  battery'"'  which  poured  in  a  destructive  fire  of 
shot  and  shell,  causing  our  men  to  retire.""^ 

''^  Bull  Run,  Its  Strategy  and  Tactics,  123;  Robert  M.  Johnston  ( 1  867- 
1920),  M.A.,  Pembroke  College,  Cambridge;  Assistant  Professor  of  His- 
tory, Harvard  University  1908-1919;  Major,  U.  S.  Army  attached  to  the 
General  Staff,  A.  E.  F.,'l9I9-20  ;  Professor  of  Modern  History,  Harvard 
University,  1920. 

*'"  Johnston,  126,  137;  Frv,  39.  William  H.  Russell,  correspondent  of 
the  London  Times  wrote:  "It  would  scarcely  be  credited,  were  I  not  told 
it  by  General  McDowell,  that  there  is  no  such  thing  procurable  as  a  decent 
map  of  Virginia.  He  knows  little  or  nothing  of  the  country  before  him, 
more  than  the  general  direction  of  the  main  roads,  .  .  .  and  he  can  obtain 
no  information,  inasmuch  as  the  enemv  are  in  full  force  and  he  has  not 
a  cavalry  officer  capable  of  conducting  a  reconnaisance."  My  Diary,  "North 
and  South  (London,  1863),  H,  147. 

"■'  Fry  wrote:  "The  troops  began  to  advance  from  the  Potomac  with  a 
dread  of  being  sent  against  'masked  batteries.'  They  felt  that  their  fears 


6  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

"The  consequences  of  that  defeat  were  serious,"  wrote 
Capt.  James  B.  Fry,  McDowell's  Adjutant  General.  The 
depressing  effect  of  the  shock  was  not  confined  to  the  troops 
engaged  j  "the  whole  army  felt  it."  But  Lt.  Ames  does  not 
mention  it,  though  the  demoralization  was  so  widespread 
that  the  4th  Pennsylvania  Infantry  and  the  8th  New  York 
Militia  Battery,  their  terms  having  expired,  "moved  to 
the  rear  to  the  sound  of  the  enemy's  cannon,"'"'  as  the 
battle  of  Sunday  was  about  to  begin. 

At  the  very  moment  when  Tyler's  guns  were  "already 
booming  along  the  banks  of  Bull  Run,"'*  Gen.  Johnston 
was  marching  out  of  Winchester,  hfty-seven  miles  away, 
to  reinforce  Beauregard  who,  he  had  been  informed,  was 
being  attacked  by  McDowell.  Led  by  Jackson's  brigade, 
the  column  marched  through  Ashby's  Gap  to  Piedmont. 
Hurrying  forward  the  artillery  and  Col.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart's 
cavalry  by  forced  marches  and  moving  the  infantry  by 
the  Manassas  Gap  Railroad,  Gen.  Johnston  arrived  in  time 
to  be  able  to  exert  the  full  strength  of  his  force  at  the 
crucial  moment  of  the  battle  on  Sunday,  July  2 1 ."' 

Yet  in  making  his  plans  McDowell  had  persistently 
left  out  of  account  the  possibility  of  Gen.  Johnston's  re- 
inforcing Beauregard.  He  even  ignored  the  information 
sent  him  by  Gen.  Tyler,  an  experienced  railroad  man, 
that  the  sound  of  locomotives  on  the  night  of  Jul)'  19 
indicated  that  troops  were  arriving  at  Manassas  Junction. 

were  now  realized;  and  they  were  so  in   fact,   for  thev  had  been  sent 
against  'masked  batteries.'  "  Frv,  3  5. 

^"^  Jourfial,  July  22,  1861;  Johnston,  130-35;  Fry,  21-36;  G.  F.  R. 
Henderson,  Stonewall  Jackson  (London,  1900),  I,  139,  hereinafter  cited 
as  Henderson. 

""  Official  Records,  II,  324,  McDowell's  Report.  See  also,  Woodburv, 
First  R.  I.  Regt.,  85-87;  Russell,  II,  197-99,  217-18. 

"''Johnston,  79-80,  151. 

^'Johnston,  150-63;  Henderson,  132-34;  John  G.  Barnard,  The 
C.S.  A.  and  the  Battle  of  Bull  Run  (New  York,'l  862),  105,  hereinafter 
cited  as  Barnard,  contains  several  maps,  the  best  of  which  appears  to  be 
the  one  by  Lt.  Henry  L.  Abbot,  March  14,  1  862,  from  Official  Records, 
Atlas,  I,  plate  V,  7. 


CIVIL   WAR   LETTERS   OF    WILLIAM    AMES  / 

Also,  he  clung  closely  to  the  idea  that  a  frontal  attack 
was  hopeless  and  that,  if  a  flank  attack  to  the  left  was 
impossible,  he  must  make  one  to  the  right,  no  matter  w^hat 
the  risk.  Therefore,  on  the  morning  of  July  19,  Major 
John  G.  Barnard  and  Capt.  Woodbury  of  the  Engineers, 
accompanied  by  "the  ubiquitous  Governor  Sprague,"  made 
a  reconnaissance  to  find  a  road  connecting  the  Warrenton 
turnpike  with  the  ford  at  Sudley  Springs  in  order  to  make 
it  possible  to  turn  the  Confederates'  key  position  at  Stone 
Bridge.  As  McDowell  could  not  make  a  reconnaissance 
in  force  without  giving  away  his  plans  the  information 
obtained  was  slight,  and  tw^o  days  were  wasted.  But  hear- 
ing a  rumor  that  G&n.  Johnston  had  reached  Manassas, 
he  decided  to  delay  no  longer  and  called  the  commanders 
together  to  explain  his  plans  for  an  advance  on  Sunday, 
July  21,  1861.'"^ 

Execution  of  the  flanking  movement  called  for  a  threat 
to  the  Confederate  position  at  Stone  Bridge.  Therefore 
McDowell  ordered  Tyler  to  move  "at  2.30  A.  M.  pre- 
cisely" on  the  Warrenton  turnpike  but  not  to  open  fire 
"until  full  daybreak."  Hunter's  Second  Division — includ- 
ing Burnside's  Brigade — was  ordered  to  turn  right  on  the 
wood  road  from  the  turnpike  and  pass  Bull  Run  "above 
the  lower  ford  at  Sudley  Springs,  and  then,  turning  down 
to  the  left  descend  the  stream  and  clear  away  the  enemy 
who  may  be  guarding  the  lower  ford  and  bridge."  Heintz- 
elman's  Thii'd  Division  was  ordered  to  follow  Hunter  and 
to  "cross  at  the  lower  ford,  after  it  has  been  turned.  .  .  ."''^ 
But  Tyler  was  very  slow  in  getting  underway  and  it  was 
not  until  6  A.  M.  that  Hunter  turned  off  the  turnpike; 
"and  that  was  the  hour  at  which  the  commander-in-chief 
hoped  to  have  his  whole  force  at  Sudley  Springs."'"  "Two 
hours  or  more  were  then  lost,"  complained  Woodbury, 
"enough  to  decide  the  fate  of  the  day." 


r,8 


Johnston,  139-48;  Fry,  39-41  ;  Henderson,  1,  140. 
""McDowell's   General'Orders   No.   22,   July   20,    1861,   quoted   by 
Johnston,  144-45;  Fry,  44-45. 
'"  Johnston,  165. 


8  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Hunter's  column  was  led  by  twenty-five  axemen  of  the 
2d  New  Hampshire,  followed  by  the  2d  Rhode  Island 
and  its  Battery,  the  2d  New  Hampshire  and  the  71st  New 
York.  "What  wearisome  work  in  clearing  away  the  fallen 
trees,  which  .  .  .  obstructed  the  path!  .  .  .  The  artillery 
could  be  moved  but  with  difficulty.  Col.  Hunter,  who  was 
lame,  proceeded  in  a  carriage.  Other  vehicles  were  along, 
with  civilians,  who  wished  to  see  the  battle." 

About  9  A.  M.  the  column  emerged  into  the  open  near 
the  Sudley  Church.  A  mile  further  on  it  crossed  the 
ford  where  horses  and  men  paused  to  drink.  Just  then 
McDowell  and  staff  rode  up  in  haste  saying  to  Burnside: 
"The  enemy  is  moving  heavy  columns  from  Manassas." 
Col.  Hunter,  with  Col.  Slocum  and  the  2d  Rhode  Island 
hurried  forward  around  a  wooded  bluff  and  came  out 
upon  an  open  plateau  "near  an  old  railroad  embankment, 
one  half  mile  west  of  Bull  Run"'^  where  they  were  met 
by  a  heavy  volley. 

Hunter  pushed  the  2d  Rhode  Island  up  to  a  position 
diagonally  across  the  road,  with  the  2d  Battery  in  front 
of  it.^^  For  about  half  an  hour  they  bore  the  brunt  of  the 
fire  from  the  Matthews  Hill  without  any  support.  When 
Hunter  was  wounded,  Burnside  took  command  and  con- 
tinued the  work  of  getting  his  brigade  engaged."^ 


'^  Interesting  contemporary  accounts  by  Henry  A.  DeWitt,  Engineer, 
1st  R.  I.,  signing  himself  "DeWitt,"  in  Journal,  July  25,  1861,  and  by 
an  anonymous  writer  from  the  2d  Battery,  Journal,  July  31,  1861.  Other 
quotations  are  from  Woodbury,  31-35;  First  R.  I.  Regt.,  87-93. 

72  "'p}^e  battery  was  now  considerably  in  advance  of  the  infantry  and 
could  easily  have  been  captured  and  taken  from  the  field  by  the  enemy, 
before  the  supporting  infantry  were  formed  in  line  of  battle;  and  two 
years  later  under  the  same  circumstances  would  have  been  lost."  J.  Albert 
Monroe,  "The  Rhode  Island  Artillery  at  the  First  Battle  of  Bull  Run," 
Person-al  Narratives  of  the  Rebellion,  No.  2  (Providence,  1878),  14, 
hereinafter  cited  as  Monroe.  Although  Johnston  refers  to  Monroe  (p. 
187)  he  ignores  the  above  statement  when  he  places  the  battery  in  the 
rear  of  the  Second  Rhode  Island  in  his  diagram  on  page  1  88. 

"^  For  contemporary  accounts  see  "Tockwotton"  in  the  Press,  July  25, 
1861  ;  Lt.  John  P.  Shaw,  Co.  F,  2d  R.  I.,  in  the  Journal,  July  27,  1861  ; 


CIVIL   WAR  LETTERS  OF  WILLIAM   AMES 


K.D.Johnson 


Scene  of  Operations  of 

2  OS  Rhode  Island  Regiment 

July  21.1861 


>caie 


The  "difficult  wood  road"  to  Sudley  Springs  turns  to  the  right 
off  the  Warrenton  turnpike  about  half  a  mile  beyond  the  bridge 
over  Cub  Run,  runs  about  four  miles  northwards  and  then  turns 
southwest  for  about  two  miles  to  Sudlev  Ford.  Beyond  Bull  Run, 
on  the  right  of  the  road  there  is  open  farm  land;  on  the  left,  the 
country  is  thickly  wooded  for  a  short  distance  and  then  opens  out 
into  fenced  fields  sloping  gradually  up  to  the  Matthews  Hill  which 
is  separated  from  the  Henry  House  Hill  by  the  wide  depression 
through  which  flows  Young's  Branch.  An  "Unfinished"  or  "Aban- 
doned" Railroad  Embankment""'  crosses  the  Sudley-New  Market 
road  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  northwest  of  the  Matthews  Hill. 


H.  J.  Raymond's  dispatch  to  the  Nezv  Yof'k  Times  reprinted,  Journal, 
July  24,  1861.  Johnston  covers  the  Federal  side,  187-92,  and  the  Con- 
federate, 195-97.  For  an  interesting  account  written  many  years  later  by 
a  corporal  in  Ames'  Co.  D,  see  Elisha  H.  Rhodes,  "The  First  Campaign 
of  the  Second  Rhode  Island  Infantry,"  Personal  Narratives  of  the  Rebel- 
lion (Providence,  1878),  17-21,  hereinafter  cited  as  Rhodes.  He  rose 
to  be  Capt.  Co.  D,  Mav  5,  1864.  Bartlett,  333-38.  See  also,  Woodbury, 
First  R.  I.  Regt.,  93-101. 

'*  It  is  variously  described  bv  contemporaries.  "An  abandoned  railroad 
track,  passing  through  this  held,  made  a  respectable  entrenchment." 
Woodbury,  First  R.  I.  Regt.,  95. 


10  RHODE    ISLAND    HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

The  Confederate  forces  on  the  Matthews  Hill  were  the 
Second  Brigade,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Nathan  G. 
Evans.  When  Gen.  Tyler  attacked  at  daybreak  Evans 
was  near  Stone  Bridge.  But  quickly  finding  that  the 
attack  was  being  "feebly  pressed"  and  shortly  afterwards 
seeing  a  cloud  of  heavy  dust  rising  above  the  woods  to 
the  north  of  the  Warrenton  turnpike  his  soldierly  instinct 
told  him  that  the  movement  on  his  front  was  only  a  feint 
and  that  McDowell's  real  attack  would  be  on  the  flank. 
He  therefore  rapidly  moved  his  force  to  the  left  across 
the  path  of  the  turning  column  and  occupied  the  Matthews 
Hill  from  which  he  poured  a  heavy  hre  into  Burnside's 
brigade.  But  soon  Porter's  and  Franklin's  divisions  came 
into  action  on  Burnside's  right,  near  the  Dogan  House, 
Griffin's  and  Ricketts'  batteries  delivered  a  very  effective 
fire  and  the  Confederates  began  to  withdraw  from  the 
Matthews  Hill  across  Young's  Branch  to  the  Henry  House 
Hill. 

It  was  between  1 1 :30  and  12  noon  when  Major  Sykes, 
with  two  battalions  of  regulars  and  a  battalion  of  Marines, 
and  Col.  William  Tecumseh  Sherman's  brigade  relieved 
Burnside,  all  of  whose  regiments  —  except  the  2d  New 
Hampshire  —  were  then  "drawn  off  into  the  field  in  the 
rear.  .  .  ."  "Our  own  brigade,"  wrote  Woodbury,  "retired 
in  complete  order  and  stacked  arms,  to  receive  its  ammu- 
nition and  rest  awhile,  expecting  to  resume  the  battle  at 
a  later  period."'" 

Lt.  Ames  wrote  home  twice  after  Bull  Run:  a  hasty 
scrawl  on  his  arrival  back  at  Camp  Clark  j  and  a  more 
detailed  account  after  he  had  discussed  the  eventful  day 
with  his  comrades. 

Camp  Clark  July  22/61 

To  my  Dear  Father  &  Mother 

Through  Gods  mercy  and  His  protection  I  have 
been  permitted  to  return  from  perhaps  one  of  the 


'^Woodbury,  First  R.  I.  Regt.,  101  ;  William  T.  Sherman,  Memoirs 
(New  York,  1875),  I,  183,  hereinafter  cited  as  Sherman. 


CIVIL    WAR    LKTTKKS    OF    WILLIAM    AMLS  11 

most  savage  cruel  and  bloody  battles  ever  fought  in 
this  our  nationland.  You  would  no  doubt  like  to  hear 
an  account  of  the  battle  from  an  eye  witness. 

We  left  our  camp  ground  five  miles  from  Fairfax 
at  about  two  Oclock  Sunday  morning.  After  march- 
ing about  fifteen  miles  through  thick  woods  we  arrived 
at  Bull's  Run.  Co  D  at  the  time  was  leading  off  the 
Brigade."' 

As  we  passed  up  a  slight  elevation  in  the  ground 
bordered  on  one  hand  by  thick  woods,  and  on  the 
other  by  an  open  plain  &  just  as  we  had  passed  the 
top  of  the  hill,  a  perfect  shower  of  bullets  rattled 
around  our  heads. 

The  order  was  given  to  fall  upon  the  enemy  by 
our  gallant  Jittle  Col. — now  no  more.  Our  men  gave 
a  fierce,  loud,  shout  and  sprang  up  the  hill  to  close  in 
the  deadly  encounter.  The  rebels  fell  back  and  poured 
a  very  severe  volley  into  our  ranks.  The  2d  Reg 
received  the  chief  part  of  the  attack  for  over  twenty 
minutes.  Then  we  were  supported  by  the  other  Regts 
in  our  rear. 

When  our  battery  commenced  playing  upon  them 
it  cut  through  their  ranks  like  a  scythe  through  grass. 
The  U  S  Marines  made  a  gallant  charge  upon  the 
rebels  doing  great  mischief  to  their  ranks"  The  air 
seemed  full  of  bullets  shot  and  shell.  I  shall  never 
so  long  as  I  live  be  able  to  forget  that  bloody  day.  .  .  , 

I  tried  to  do  my  duty  to  the  best  of  my  ability  and 
I  think  others  will  say  the  same  of  me.  Our  Co  is 
pretty  well  cut  up  having  lost  quite  a  number,'^  The 


'**  Co.  D  was  his  own  Compan\  ;  Capt.  W.  H.  P.  Stccrc,  1st  Lt.  Edward 
H.  Sears,  2d  Lt.  William  Ames. 

"  A  battalion  of  Marines  was  with  the  United  States  Infantry  under 
Major  Sykes  who  came  "upon  the  field  at  a  double-quick,  and  with  a 
ringing  cheer,  charged  down  to  the  left  and  relieved  the  Second  Regi- 
ment." Woodbury,  3  5. 

''^  "The  Regiment — both  infantry  and  artillerv — lost  in  this  battle  and 
on  the  retreat,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  104  officers  and  men." 
Woodbury,  38. 


12  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Rebels  loss  was  severe  also  The  battle  lasted  about 
three  hours  when  getting  out  of  ammunition  we  were 
obliged  to  retreat,  I  will  write  again  soon.  Just  at 
present  I  am  prostrated  by  the  great  excitement  of 
the  battle  and  the  fatigue  caused  by  a  march  of  sixty 
miles  within  thirty  hours.''' 

Your  affec  son 

W'"  Ames 
The  second  letter,  written  four  days  later: 

Camp  Clark  July  27/61 
To  My  Dear  Father 

I  received  your  letter  last  evening.  I  had  intended 
to  have  given  you  a  full  account  of  our  battle  and 
retreat.  But  time  flies.  We  left  our  camp  four  miles 
from  Centreville  at  about  two  Oclock  Sunday  morn- 
ing the  21st  July  1861.  We  led  the  Brigade.  That  is 
our  Regt  did.  We  marched  for  about  six  miles  on  the 
road*"  and  then  struck  into  the  woods  and  marched  by 
a  very  roundabout  way  for  six  or  seven  miles  more, 
when  we  came  out  into  more  open  land.  After  leav- 
ing the  woods  we  marched  three  miles  farther,  and 
stopped  at  a  brook  to  fill  our  canteens.*^  After  resting 
a  quarter  of  an  hour  we  proceeded  on  our  way  round 
a  corner  as  it  were,  or  wooded  bluff.  Just  as  the  head 
of  the  column  had  turned  this  corner  we  heard  the 
report  of  a  heavy  gun.^'  Which  no  doubt  was  a  signal 
for  them  to  open  upon  us,  for  we  had  not  gone  over 
fifteen  hundred  yards  when  we  were  fired  into  by  a 


'^^  Special  dispatch  to  the  Journal,  Washington,  July  22:  "The  Rhode 
Island  troops  have  just  arrived  after  a  march  of  fifty  miles.  Col.  Burnside 
complimented  the  boys  on  their  bravery.  The  guide  is  supposed  to  be 
treacherous."  Journal,  July  23,  1861. 

®°  From  the  2d's  camp  beyond  Centreville  it  is  about  six  miles  to  the 
wood  road. 

^^  Apparently  refers  to  the  halt  near  Sudley  Ford. 

^'  The  report  of  this  gun  was  heard  by  many  people  but  rf^  one  tells 
who  fired  it.  Cj.  "The  Battle  Described  by  a  Volunteer,"  Press,  Julv  27, 
1861  ;  "DeWitt"  to  the  Journal,  July  23,  1861. 


CIVIL   WAR  LETTERS  OF  WILLIAM   AMES  13 

Regt  of  rebels  hidden  behind  a  long  rail  fence,  at 
the  top  of  a  grove  which  sloped  down  to  the  road 
where  we  were.  The  sensation  caused  by  the  first 
shower  of  bullets  around  ones  head,  is  very  strange. 
We  were  halted  and  ordered  to  throw  off  our  blan- 
kets &  haversacks.  This  done  [we]  were  ordered  to 
go  to  our  work  of  slaughter.  Such  a  yell  as  ascended 
from  our  Regt  as  we  rushed  up  the  hill*^  has  seldom 
been  heard  since  the  Indian  war  whoop  has  become 
extinct.  We  drove  them  from  the  fence  back  upon 
open  ground  where  we  gave  them  such  a  volley  of 
bullets,  that  they  were  obliged  to  retreat  to  another 
grove  further  on.**  They  made  several  attempts  to 
form  their  line  and  advance.  But  with  our  little 
battery  and  good  marksmen  in  the  infantry  soon  put 
a  stop  to  all  such  proceedings.  We  held  the  hill  we 
were  upon  for  forty-five  minutes  without  aid  from 
anyone.  That  is  the  2d  Regt  and  battery.  During  this 
time  they  were  bringing  up  the  other  regiments. 
Our  men  fired  away  all  their  ammunition.  Twenty- 
five  rounds,  and  then  used  that  of  the  dead  and 
wounded.  I  filled  the  box  of  one  of  our  men  from  a 
dead  man's.  When  this  was  gone  we  were  helpless. 
The  other  Regiments  how  came  up  and  we  were 
relieved.  The  lack  of  ammunition  was  one  of  the 
greatest  oversights  on  the  part  of  those  who  com- 
manded the  expedition  that  could  have  been  made.*' 
Col.  Slocum  is  dead  but  he  will  never  perish  in  the 


*^  Matthews  Hill,  see  map,  page  9. 
^■^  Henrv  House  Hill,  see  map,  page  9. 

85 


In  his  hasty  letter  of  July  22,  written  before  he  had  much  oppor- 
tunity to  talk  things  over,  Ames  refers  to  "getting  out  of  ammunition." 
Joseph  P.  Manton,  a  volunteer  with  the  1st  R.  I.,  wrote:  "They  fought 
heroically  until  their  ammunition  was  exhausted."  Journal,  July  25, 
1  861 .  Years  later,  after  there  was  ample  time  to  establish  an  alibi,  Private 
Rhodes  wrote:  "We  withdrew  to  replenish  our  ammunition."  Rhodes,  2  1 . 
But  the  contemporary  accounts  destroy  the  validity  of  Johnston's  slur  on 
the  Rhode  Island  troops  and  on  Burnside's  official  report  when  he  writes: 


14  RHODE    ISLAND    HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

memory  of  those  who  saw  him  on  the  battlefield. 
He  was  as  calm  and  cool  as  I  have  ever  seen  him. 
The  last  order  he  gave  to  our  Capt  was,  I  give  you 
command  of  the  left  wing — keep  it.  He  walked  off, 
and  was  shot  about  two  minutes  afterwards.  I  saw 
him  as  he  was  being  carried  off  the  field,  I  could  see 
no  motion  in  any  of  his  limbs  only  a  slight  motion  of 
the  eyelids.  He  is  a  man  that  will  be  much  missed 
by  us  air''  Major  Ballou  was  a  man  out  of  his  place. 
He  had  no  knowledge  of  field  movements  which 
made  him  less  efficient  as  an  officer.  We  all  liked  him 
as  a  man,  and  he  was  a  brave  man  upon  the  field. 
I  saw  his  horse  laying  [sic]  upon  the  field  with  a 
hole  in  his  side  as  large  round  as  the  top  of  a  hat,  made 


"At  the  very  moment  that  Bee  and  Evans  gave  way  under  the  lire  of  the 
Federal  batteries,  Burnside's  men  were  apparently  done  with.  They  made 
no  attempt  at  pursuit,  but  on  the  contrary  fell  back;  Burnside's  official 
euphemism' runs: — 'I  withdrew  my  brigade  into  the  woods  in  rear  of  the 
line  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  troops  with  ammunition  ....'" 
Johnston,  210.  Reference  to  his  bibliography  shows  that  Johnston  did 
not  make  use  of  private  letters,  even  those  published  in  the  newspapers 
a  few  days  after  the  battle. 

^^  Elisha  H.  Rhodes,  private  in  Co.  D,  wrote:  "Col.  Slocum  had  crossed 
a  rail  fence  in  our  front  and  had  advanced  nearer  to  the  brow  of  the  hill 
than  the  line  occupied  by  the  regiment.  As  he  returned  and  was  in  the 
act  of  climbing  the  fence,  he  fell  on  the  side  next  to  the  regiment. 
I  being  the  nearest  man  to  him  at  the  time,  raised  him  up,  but  was  unable 
to  lift  him  from  the  ground."  Rhodes,   19. 

When  Col.  Slocum  was  wounded,  Gov.  Sprague — who  was  present — 
immediately  promoted  Lt.-Col.  Frank  Wheaton  to  the  command.  He 
was  the  son  of  Surgeon  Wheaton  (note  7)  who  had  been  educated  to  be 
a  civil  engineer.  He  assisted  John  R.  Bartlett  in  the  survey  of  the  United 
States-Mexican  border.  Appointed  Lt.  U.  S.  Cavalry,  185  5  ;  Capt.,  1861  ; 
commissioned  Lt.-Col.  2d  R.  I.,  by  Gov.  Sprague,  July  16,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers,  at  Fredericksburg  (1862)  ;  to 
brevet  Major-General  of  \'olunteers,  bv  Gen.  Sheridan,  at  Cedar  Creek 
(1864). 

Gen.  Wheaton  commanded  either  a  regiment,  a  brigade,  or  a  division 
in  every  battle  in  which  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  engaged  from  Bull 
Run  to  Appomatox,  besides  participating  in  Gen.  Sheridan's  Shenandoah 
Valley  campaigns  (1864).  Bartlett,  433-3  5,  Journal,  June  20,  1903. 


CIVIL   WAR   LETTERS   OF    WILLIAM    AMES  15 

by  the  ball  that  killed  the  Major/^'  Burnside  God 
bless  him  is  a  man  who  has  not  his  equal  upon  the 
face  of  the  earth.  He  had  the  command  after  Col 
Hunter  was  wounded.  McDowell  could  not  be  found 
half  the  time.  Gen.  Burnside  was  in  and  on  the  field 
all  the  time.  His  hat  had  several  bullet  holes  in  the 
top.  When  he  heard  of  Col.  Slocum's  death,  he  was 
very  much  affected  even  to  tears.  When  Burnside 
came  off  the  field  he  said  in  the  presence  of  some  of 
the  Officers  of  the  1st  and  2d  Regiments,  "By  G-d 
the  fighting  men  are  in  the  2d."  This  is  as  true  as 
the  day  is  long.  He  is  a  man  who  never  uses  profane 
language  and  this  was  owing  to  the  excitement  of  the 
moment.  Capt  Steere  did  very  w^ell  indeed  and  well 
merits  his  promotion.''^  We  will  now  return  to  the 
retreat.  After  our  ammunition  had  given  out  we 
retired  to  the  woods  in  our  rear.  The  rebel  batteries 
seemed  to  be  silenced  and  I  went  on  my  expedition 
through  the  woods  which  you  know  about. '^"  Just  as 
I  had  finished  my  tour  of  misery  seeing,  I  saw  an 
artillery  wagon  rushing  past,  and  a  man  as  I  passed 
the  Hospital  told  me  that  we  were  retreating.    I  was 


**'  "Major  Ballon  showed  himself,  the  bravest  of  the  brave,"  "Tock- 
wotton,"  in  the  Press,  July  26,  1861.  He  was  appointed  Major  "not  for 
his  military  experience,  but  from  the  general  confidence  felt,  and  most 
justly  felt,  in  him.  He  proved  before  his  death  .  .  .  that  he  possessed 
an  unusual  capacitv  for  command,  and  a  great  aptitude  for  the  military 
art."    Bartlett,  250.  {rj.  note  +1). 

****  Promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  July  22,  1861. 

****  July  23,  1861,  Ames  wrote  his  father:  "After  the  battle  was  fought 
I  went  into  a  grove  where  the  secessionists  had  been  concealed.  I  found 
the  grove  covered  with  the  dead  and  dying.  The  sight  was  one  that  I  pray 
never  to  see  again.  One  poor  fellow  with  his  leg  blown  off  called  me  to 
him,  and  asked  me  to  shake  hands  with  him.  I  did  so.  He  then  asked  me 
if  I  had  any  ill  feelings  towards  him.  I  replied.  No,  but  I  am  sorry  that 
brothers  should  be  obliged  to  slaughter  each  other  in  this  manner.  The 
poor  fellow  burst  into  tears  and  said  he  came  from  Georgia  and  that  they 
would  have  shot  him  in  his  own  house  if  he  had  not  come.  1  saw  many 
heart  rendering  [sic]  scenes.  ...  I  must  go  now  and  help  take  an  account 
of  the  dead  and  wounded.  Sad  business  this." 


16  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

very  much  inclined  to  tell  him  he  lied  for  after  such 
fighting  as  we  had  just  gone  through  with,  I  thought  it 
was  ridiculous.^"  But  when  I  got  to  the  top  of  the  hill 
it  proved  a  reality.  The  retreat  was  not  an  orderly 
one  for  about  one  mile  when  we  were  halted.  The 
two  Rhode  Island  Regiments  were  formed  in  good 
order,  and  in  fact  our  Brigade  I  think  was  the  best 
formed  and  governed  of  all  the  troops  in  the  column. 
We  marched  back  through  the  woods  by  the  same 
road  that  we  came.  I  knew  and  expected  that  if  the 
enemy  had  been  reinforced  by  Johnston,  that  we 
would  be  either  cut  off  whilst  going  through  the  wood 
or  when  we  attempted  to  cross  the  bridge  at  Bull 
Run."^  And  sure  enough  after  the  column  had  com- 
menced filing  over  the  bridge  they  opened  upon  us 
with  shot  and  shell  from  their  cannon  posted  in  a 
thick  wood  opposite  the  bridge.  A  ball  came  crashing 
over  my  head  into  the  woods  snapping  off  the  boughs 
and  branches  as  if  they  had  been  pipe  stems.  I  stopped 
to  see  if  I  could  not  help  rally  the  men  but  it  was 
no  use.  Men  who  have  been  walking  and  fighting 
from  two  in  the  morning  until  six  in  the  evening  with 
nothing  to  eat  cannot  be  made  to  do  much  work.  Now 
came  the  grand  stampede.  I  thought  to  myself  Ames 
you  have  got  to  get  across  that  brook  or  have  your 
throat  cut.  You  must  either  ford  it  or  go  over  the 
bridge.  I  then  had  an  idea  that  they  would  try  to 
sweep  the  bridge  knowing  there  must  be  a  jam  there. 
I  therefore  jumped  in  up  to  my  middle  and  gained 


^°  Ames  was  not  alone  in  his  opinion.  "At  three  In  the  afternoon  the 
enemy  disappeared  in  our  front  and  the  firing  ceased.  We  considered  that 
a  victory  had  been  won.  The  wounded  were  cared  for  and  then  orders 
came  for  us  to  retire  to  a  piede  of  woods  in  our  rear  and  fill  our  boxes 
with  ammunition."  Rhodes,  21.  Cf.  "Tockwotton"  in  the  Press,  July  25, 
1861  ;  Woodbury,  35-36;  First  R.  I.  Regt.,  106. 

^^  He  means  the  bridge  over  Cub  Run,  as  he  was  never  near  Stone 
Bridge  over  Bull  Run. 


CIVIL   WAR  LETTERS  OF   WILLIAM   AMES  17 

the  Other  side  in  safety.^"  The  retreat  after  leaving 
the  bridge  was  a  grand  mixture  of  all  the  Regiments, 
until  we  got  to  our  old  camp  beyond  Centreville 
where  our  Regiment  was  reformed  and  proceeded  on 
to  Washington  marching  until  about  nine  or  ten  the 
next  morning.''"*  A  pretty  severe  job  I  can  tell  you. 
Any  person  can  see  that  there  was  very  little  judge- 
ment shown  in  the  whole  affair.  We  were  not  fit  for 
anything  when  we  arrived  upon  the  battle  ground. 
For  a  march  of  fifteen  miles  with  heavy  blanket  and 
nothing  to  eat  does  not  improve  a  man  for  fighting 
order.  And  we  were  to  be  kept  as  a  reserve.  But  the 
first  thing  that  we  knew  the  lion  had  his  jaws  open 
and  we  were  walking  in  like  flies.  There  is  only  two 
ways  in  which  I  can  account  for  our  great  mishap. 

McDowell  is  either  a  traitor  or  a  d fool.    In 

answer  to  your  question  about  our  company  being  first 
in  the  battle — you  must  understand  that  an  army  in 
advancing  through  a  hostile  country  throws  out  what 
are  called  flankers  and  skirmishers.  These  always  meet 
the  enemy  first  and  give  the  alarm  to  the  column.  * 

From  all  accounts  every  one  in  the  Rhode  Island  regi- 
ments was  completely  surprised  by  the  order  to  retreat. 
Chaplain  Jameson,  of  the  Second,  said:  "I  supposed  the 

""  "The  bridge  [over  Cub  Run],"  wrote  "Tockwotton,"  "was  at  once 
broken  and  the  river  choked  with  vehicles  of  all  sorts,  so  that  passage  to 
others  than  persons  on  foot  and  single  horsemen  by  fording  the  stream 
became  impossible."  "Tockwotton,"  Press,  August  S,  1861.  See  also, 
Monroe,  25,  and  Rhodes,  22. 

"They  [the  Rhode  Island  regiments]  came  over  Long  Bridge  in 
line,  with  Colonel  Burnside  and  Governor  Sprague  at  their  head."  Joseph 
P.  Manton  in  the  Journal,  July  25,   1861. 

The  sketch  which  Ames  appended  to  this  letter  would  indicate  that 
the  skirmishers  were  in  advance  as  well  as  beside  the  column,  but  Lt. 
John  P.  Shaw,  Co.  F,  states  that  his  company — not  Lt.  Ames'  Co.  D. — 
was  the  advance  guard  and  had  skirmishers  "on  each  side  of  the  road." 
Journal,  July  27,  1861.  Monroe  said  the  2d  R.  L  "skirmishers,  contrary 
to  the  custom  of  throwing  them  well  in  advance,  .  .  .  moved  directly 
on  the  flanks  of  the  column."  Monroe,  1  2. 


18  RHODE   ISLAND    HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

day  was  gained.  Our  part  was  a  victory."""  Chaplain 
Woodbury,  who  had  acted  as  an  aide  to  Burnside,  wrote: 
"The  enemy  acknowledges  himself  beaten  at  half  past 
three  o'clock."'"^  But  on  the  Henry  House  Hill  the  Con- 
deferates  had  rallied  and  with  Jackson's  brigade  "stand- 
ing like  a  stone  wall"  turned  the  tide.  "Here,  about  half- 
past  3  P.  M.,  began  the  scene  of  confusion  and  disorder 
that  characterized  the  remainder  of  the  day,"  wrote  Gen. 
Sherman  in  his  official  report,  July  25,  1861.  "Up  to 
that  time,  all  had  kept  their  places,  and  seemed  perfectly 
cool.  .  .  j  but  the  short  exposure  to  an  intense  fire  of 
small-arms,  at  close  range,  had  killed  many,  wounded 
more,  and  had  produced  disorder  in  all  of  the  battalions 
that  attempted  to  encounter  it."  From  the  Rhode  Island 
point  of  view  it  is  sufficient  to  note  that  the  retreat  and 
ensuing  panic  occurred  when  her  regiments  were  not 
engaged. 

"It  is  now  generally  admitted,"  wrote  Sherman  (  1875), 
"that  it  was  one  of  the  best-planned  battles  of  the  war, 
but  one  of  the  worst  fought.  .  .  .  Both  armies  were  fairly 
defeated,  and,  whichever  had  stood  fast,  the  other  would 
have  run.  Though  the  North  was  overwhelmed  with 
mortification  and  shame,  the  South  really  had  not  much 
to  boast  of,  for  in  three  or  four  hours  of  fighting  their 
organization  was  so  broken  up  that  they  did  not  and 
could  not  follow  our  army  when  it  was  known  to  be  in 
a  state  of  disgraceful  and  causeless  flight.""' 

The  Ames  letters  do  not  reflect  any  of  the  mortifica- 
tion to  which  Gen.  Sherman  refers.  Gov.  Sprague's  ad- 
dress to  the  troops  saying  that  "he  would  give  his  last 


""'  Press,  July  25,  1861. 

"^^  Woodbury,  First  R.  I.  Regt.,  106. 


"'Sherman,  I,   181-82,  Henderson,  I,   141-54.  "Lt.  says 

Russell  of  the  [London]  Times  told  him  that  he  had  seen  every  kind  of 
a  'scrimmage'  from  an  Irish  wake  to  a  pitched  battle,  and  he  never  saw 
anything  so  strange  as  that  rout,  when  there  was  nothing  to  run  from." 
Journal,  July  31,  1861. 


CIVIL   WAR   LETTERS   OF   WILLIAM    AMES  19 

drop  of  blood  and  his  last  cent  to  have  us  avenged,"''^ 
encouraged  Ames  to  express  similar  sentiments:  "If  ever 
we  go  into  Va  again  it  will  not  be  with  a  light  step  as 
before  paying  double  price  for  everything  we  wanted  to 
eat  and  drink.  There  is  one  thing  I  am  sure  of,  the  soldiers 
will  if  not  restrained  by  some  high  powers  burn  and  slay 
as  they  go.  They  are  bound  to  be  avenged."  But  this  mood 
passes  in  the  next  sentence  and  he  agrees  with  his  father 
that  there  "is  a  great  deal  of  boasting  amongst  some  people. 
I  have  tried  not  to  open  my  mouth  upon  what  I  did  dur- 
ing the  battle.  For  if  I  did  anything  others  will  know  it 
without  my  singing  my  song  to  every  person  that  1  meet."" 
If  he  is  modest  about  himself,  yet  he  delights  to  tell  of 
the  exploits  of  others.  "The  President  came  out  to  see  us 
after  our  return.  He  was  introduced  to  our  Color-Bearer,^"" 
a  very  brave  young  fellow  who  stood  like  a  man  of  iron 
in  the  face  of  the  hottest  hre.  I  was  near  the  Glorious  old 
flag  when  a  cannon  ball  came  rushing  through  the  silken 
folds  of  our  banner,  Which  by  the  way  is  pretty  well 
riddled  by  rifle  balls."  Said  an  ofiicer,  "That  fellow  alone 
is  worth  a  thousand  men."^"'  Lincoln  and  Secretary 
Seward,  who  accompanied  him,  "were  informed  both  of 
his  conduct  and  of  the  admiration  of  it  expressed  by  officers 
of  other  regiments  in  the  field.  Mr.  Seward  took  his 
name,"  wrote  the  correspondent  of  the  Press,  "and  you 
will  be  pleased  to  learn  the  brave  fellow  has  received  a 
commission."^"' 


**  Ames  to  Mother,  July  25,  1861. 

^^  Ames  to  Father,  July  26,  1861. 

'""John  M.  Duffy,  Color-Sergeant  Co.  C,  June  5,  1861;  2d  Lt., 
July  22,  1  861  ;  1st  Lt.  Co.  B,  Nov.  13,  1861;  resigned  to  accept  appoint- 
ments as  1st  Lt.  13th  U.  S.  Infantry,  Nov.  26,  1861  ;  Capt.  22d  U.  S. 
Infantry,  Nov.  8,  1  86+. 

^''l  Press,  July  26,   1861. 

^°~  Press,  July  29,  1861.  In  a  letter  to  the  Evening  Bulletin,  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1867,  John  R.  Bartlett  states  that  he  erred  in  giving  credit  for 
this  exploit  to  C.  G.  Pierce,  Co.  G.  (P.  125);  that  he  had  since  been 
informed  by  Gen.  Nelson  \'iall  the  real  hero  was  John  M.  Duffy. 


20  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Ames  was  naturally  affected  by  the  loss  of  his  fellow 
officers. 

"It  seems  very  sad  as  I  sit  by  the  door  of  my  tent."^ 
Opposite  if  I  happen  to  glance  in  that  direction,  I  miss  the 
pleasant  faces  of  the  Col  and  Major.  If  to  the  right  of 
me  our  messmate  Capt  Smith. ^"^  If  I  look  to  the  left  of 
us  Capt  Tower  is  gone."^  It  is  truly  sad  to  see  what  deso- 
lation and  misery  a  few  dirty  scoundrels  called  Politicians 
can  bring  about.  Pell  was  not  injured  in  the  least  and  is 
as  bright  as  ever.""'' 

On  July  28  Ames  wrote  his  father: 

"The  vacancies  caused  by  death  in  our  ranks  have  at 
last  been  Riled.  Capt  Steere  is  our  Lt  Col.  and  a  good  one 
he  will  make.  Capt.  Viall  is  to  be  our  Major.  Sears  whose 
number  was  very  near  the  head  has  been  promoted."^  He 
is  now  Capt  of  Co  D.  My  number  was  formerly  ten  it  is 
now  five  so  if  we  have  another  Bull  Run,  I  shall  be  pro- 
moted to  a  captaincy  or  first  lieutenant  berth. 

"These  promotions  are  not  made  on  account  of  bravery 
or  any  other  deeds  done  on  the  battle  field.  This  promo- 
tion leaves  the  1st  Lt  berth  open.  This  is  now  filled  by 
Jim  Aborn/'"'  who  is  the  Quartermaster  and  he  being 
detached  for  this  service  it  leaves  me  the  work  of  both 
Lts  under  a  very  poor  Captain  a  man  who  I  do  not  respect 

"^  Ames  to  Mother,  July  26,  1861. 

^^*  Samuel  James  Smith  of  Seekonk.  He  was  a  practicing  apothecary 
in  Woonsocket.  Mustered  as  Capt.  Co.  I,  2d  R.  I.,  June  5,  1861.  Killed 
at  the  bridge  over  Cub  Run  on  the  retreat.    Bartlett,  129-30. 

^°^  Levi  Tower  of  Blackstone,  Mass.  Left  Brown  because  of  ill  health. 
Entered  the  employ  of  Jacob  Dunnell,  the  calico  printer  in  Pawtucket. 
Ensign  1st  R.  L  and  transferred  as  Capt.  Co.  F,  2d  R.  L   Bartlett,  127-28. 

^^^  Duncan  Archibald  Pell  of  Newport,  Ames'  classmate.  In  his 
sophomore  year  at  Brown,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  1st  R.  L;  1st  Lt.  Sept. 
17,  1861;  appointed  aide  to  Gen.  Burnside  and  attended  him  on  the 
campaigns  of  Roanoke  Island  and  Newbern.  Bartlett,  2  57-62. 

'  Every  rank,  e.  g..  Captain,  First  Lieutenant,  etc.,  drew  numbers 
for  the  order  of  their  rank  and  promotion. 

^''^  James  xAborn  of  Providence:  1st  Lt.  Co.  B,  and  Quartermaster, 
June  6,  1861;  resigned,  March  13,  1863. 


CIVIL   WAR  LETTERS  OF  WILLIAM   AMES  21 

and  what  is  more  I  can  not  as  I  have  known  hnn  too  long. 
1  do  not  wish  to  boast  but  I  will  say  that  I  did  my  duty 
on  Sunday  last  and  what  is  more  they  know^  here  that  I 
did  not  get  behind  any  old  chimnies  or  houses  on  the 
ground.  Now,  I  wish  to  serve  under  a  man  that  knows 
more  than  I  do,  and  a  man  that  I  respect.  The  course  I 
have  laid  out  for  myself  is  to  try  it  as  long  as  I  can  and 
then  resign  my  commission  if  I  find  him  as  he  always  is 
very  much  of  a  bully  over  those  below  him." 

William  Ames  was  a  reserved  and  careful  person  all 
his  life.  It  seems  probable  that  a  severe  attack  of  "Job's 
comforters"  was  responsible  for  the  outburst  of  spleen  in 
his  letter  of  July  31. 

"I  have  made  it  a  practice  since  my  return  from  the 
battle  not  to  open  my  mouth  upon  the  actions  and  behavior 
of  any  person  on  the  held  of  battle.  But  in  you  I  have  a 
person  and  friend  in  whom  I  can  trust. 

"Capt  Cyrus  Dyer  is  accused  of  not  making  his  appear- 
ance in  good  season  and  w^hen  he  was  seen  was  under  the 
influence  of  liquor.^"'*  His  1st  Lt  is  said  to  have  hidden 
behind  a  chimney,  in  a  neighboring  farm  house.  His  name 
is  Arnold  from  the  country."*^  I  believe  Capt  Dexter"^ 
of  the  1st  was  not  at  all  anxious  to  get  into  harms  way  but 
laid  on  his  stomach  in  a  hollow  clawing  the  earth  as  if  he 
had  a  bad  belly  ache.  Lt  Warner"'  of  the  1st  was  not 
upon  his  feet  much  of  the  time.  Frank  Goddard""*  fought 
well  on  his  own  part  but  had  no  command  over  his  men. 

Cyrus  G.  Dyer  of  Providence:  1st  Lt.  and  Quartermaster,  1st  R.  I., 
April  18,  1861  ;  resigned  and  appointed  Capt.  Co.  A,  2d  R.  I.,  June  1, 
1861;  Major  12th  R.  I.,  Oct.  10,  1862;  mustered  out,  July  29,  1863. 

^^^  Stephen  T.  Arnold  of  Providence:  1st  Lt.  Co.  A,  June  6,  1861; 
wounded  at  Bull  Run;  resigned,  Oct.  26,  1861. 

^^^  Arthur  F.  Dexter,  Capt.  Co.  A,  1st  R.  I.;  appointed  Capt.,  on  staff 
of  Brig. -Gen.  Tyler,  April,   1862;  afterwards  resigned. 

'''  Luther  C.  Warner,  1st  Lt.,  Co.  C,  1st  R.  L 

Francis  Wayland  Goddard  of  Providence:  enlisted  as  private  Co.  C, 
1st  R.  L;  promoted  to  be  Capt.  Carbineers,  June  27,  1861.  Proceedings, 
R.  L  Hist.  Soc,  1889-90,  93-96. 


22  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

I  can  only  say  and  it  is  the  opinion  of  a  great  many  here 
that  Burnside  got  them  home  as  soon  as  he  could  in  order 
to  get  rid  of  comparison.  Bob  Goddard,"^  Moses  Jenkins, 
Hoppin,  DeWolf,  Greene,  Bill  Jones,  and  a  great  many 
others  fought  bravely."'' 

"When  we  left  Providence  my  number  was  ten  of  the 
2d  Lts.  It  is  now  four  in  the  line  of  promotion.  Sears 
was  No  two  of  the  1st  Lts.  So  that  he  is  now  a  Capt  and 
will  make  a  very  poor  one,  I  think.  1  do  not  say  this 
from  jealousy,  because  I  do  not  consider  myself  experi- 
enced or  old  enough  to  take  the  responsibility  of  such  an 
office.  But  a  1st  lieutenancy  I  am  pretty  sure  of  having 
very  soon." 

A  few  days  later,  August  1,  he  wrote  his  mother:  "I 
hope  you  will  burn  that  letter  with  all  the  personal  obser- 
vations in  it." 

Though  he  was  less  splenetic  in  mind  he  was  no  better 
in  body. 

"To  commence  my  tale  of  '■jcoe.  1  have  several  of  Job's 
comforters  upon  the  calves  of  my  legs.  2dly  I  have  a 
large  gathering  in  my  right  ear.  .  .  .  All  this  was  no  doubt 
brought  on  by  eating  too  much  salt  meat.  Not  having 
any  ice  it  is  almost  impossible  to  keep  fresh  meat  in  good 
order  ten  minutes.  .  .  .  You  must  not  aggravate  me  by 
describing  your  dinners.""" 


^^"^  Robert  H.  I.  Goddard  of  Providence:  Brown  '58,  enrolled  as 
private  Co.  C,  1st  R.  I.,  April  17,  1861,  mustered  in.  May  2,  1861; 
volunteer  Aide-de-Camp  on  staff  of  Generals  Burnside  and  Parke,  1  862- 
63;  brevet  Major  of  Volunteers,  for  gallant  service  at  Knoxville,  Tenn., 
Aug.  1,  1864;  brevet  Lt.-Col.  Volunteers  for  meritorious  services  at  Fort 
Stedman  and  Fort  Sedgwick,  Va.,  April  2,  1865  ;  resigned,  July  3,  1865. 
Journal,  March  10,  1906,  Feb.  10,  1907,  April  24,  1916. 

■^^^  Moses  B.  Jenkins;  William  W.  Hoppin;  William  D.  Jones,  private 
Co.  C,  1st  R.  1.  The  "Greene"  referred  to  may  be  Aaron  S.,  Arnold, 
Edward  W.  or  William  W.  B.  Greene;  the  "DeWolf"  may  be  either 
James  A.  or  Winthrop  DeWolf,  all  members  of  Co,  C,  1st  R.  I. 

"''Ames  to  Father,  August   5,   1861. 


CIVIL   WAR   LETTERS   OF   WILLIAM    AMES  23 

While  having  his  leg  dressed  he  "saw  a  pile  of  bandages 
upon  a  table  and  recognized  your  handwriting,"  he  wrote 
his  mother.  "I  little  thought  when  you  were  rolling  them 
at  home  that  I  should  see  them  again  here.""' 

Unfit  for  duty  and  confined  to  camp  he  evidently  was 
not  in  uniform.  He  tried  to  amuse  his  little  brother  Ned: 
"You  ought  to  see  me  just  at  present.  I  have  invested  in 
a  pair  of  white  canvass  |sic|  shoes  which  are  very  nice 
and  easy.  The  old  felt  hat  which  father  advised  me  to 
put  in  my  trunk  I  find  a  great  blessing.  I  have  cut  a  hole 
in  the  top  and  placed  a  figure  two  upon  the  front.  This 
makes  a  very  fancy  rig."^" 

Gov.  Sprague  had  been  commissioned  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral and  there  was  much  speculation  about  his  duties. 

"I  was  glad  to  see  by  your  letter  [Ames  wrote  his 
father,  August  1 1  |  that  the  Governor  would  not  accept 
the  Ofiice  of  Brigadier-General.  For  if  he  did  he  would 
most  probably  have  command  of  our  Brigade  and  in  my 
poor  little  opinion  he  is  too  rash  to  lead  a  large  body  of 
men  into  battle.  I  think  he  is  a  man  that  would  have  his 
men  cut  to  pieces  when  there  was  no  need  of  it.  Not  that 
he  is  not  brave.  For  every  person  knows  that  he  is.  But 
a  little  too  rash  for  my  money.  Now  of  all  the  men  upon 
the  earth  give  me  Burnside  for  the  Commander  of  our 
Brigade.  He  in  my  opinion  is  a  great  deal  cooler  and  has 
a  better  knowledge  of  military  matters.  I  am  in  hopes 
that  he  will  be  over  us.  As  the  Governor  can  be  more 
useful  in  his  present  capacity  of  a  Father  as  it  were  of  the 
R  I  Regiments.  I  was  also  sorry  to  see  that  he  had 
appointed  Tompkins  as  Major  of  the  Light  Artillery 


119 


"'Ames  to  Mother,  August  6,   1861. 
'  Ames  to  his  brother,  Edward  Carrington  Ames,  August  6,  1861. 

^^'  Charles  H.  Tompkins  of  New  Windsor,  N.  Y.:  Capt.  Providence 
Marine  Corps  of  Artillery,  "which  was  not  only  the  first  volunteer  battery 
in  the  service,  but  for  some  time  the  only  battery  of  rifled  guns."  Bart- 
lett,  373-82.  The  1st  R.  I.  Battery  saw  service  under  Gen.  Patterson 
near  Harper's  Ferrv. 


24  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

He  was  despised  by  all  of  his  men  and  was  even  driven 
all  around  the  cannons  one  night  by  one  of  the  men  who 
was  just  drunk  enough  to  show  his  spite  to  his  Captain. 
Tompkins  never  noticed  it  as  he  should  have  done. 

"Captain  Reynolds^'"  of  the  2d  Battery  is  a  man  who  is 
liked  by  all  and  a  good  officer.  It  is  the  opinion  of  all  our 
Officers  that  he  is  the  man  for  that  place. 

"I  have  heard  from  persons  who  have  arrived  here 
from  Providence  that  the  1st  Regt  were  perfect  David 
Crocketts  amongst  the  wildcats  at  Bull  Run,  they  all  hav- 
ing killed  four  or  five  men  apiece.  I  saw  a  letter  which 
was  found  in  the  1st  Regt  Quarters  after  they  had  left. 
It  was  not  quite  finished  and  was  written  by  one  of 
Goddard's  Co  saying  that  he  had  killed  sixteen  men  and 
lauding  his  Co  to  the  heavens.  .  .  ." 

He  closed  with  a  comment  which  revealed  his  native 
business  acumen: 

"Anyone  can  see  by  looking  at  the  resources  of  the  South 
that  they  cannot  stand  as  long  a  war  as  we  can  so  that  I 
feel  no  trouble  about  whipping  them  after  a  while." 

{To  be  Continued^ 

^'•^  William  H.  Reynolds:  1st  Lt.  1st  R.  I.;  resigned  June  1,  1861; 
appointed  Capt.  2d  Battery,  R.  I.  Lt.  Artillery,  June  6,  1861  ;  Lt.  Col. 
1st  R.  I.  Lt.  Artillery,  Sept.  13,  1861.  Bartlett,  387-90. 


Collections  of  Civil  War  and  World  War  letters  will  be 
welcome  additions  to  the  Library. 

Members  are  invited  to  contribute  material  relative  to 
the  Hurricane  (1938)j  National  and  State  Election 
(  1940)  j  and  city  and  town  directories  and  tax  books  from 
1937  to  date. 


I 


LIST  OF    MEMBERS 


25 


List  of  Active  Members  of  the  Rhode  Island 

Historical  Society 


DECEMBER   1940 


Mr.  Frederick  W.  Aldred 
Mr.  Edward  K.  Aldrich,  Jr. 
Miss  Lucy  T.  Aldrich 
Hon.  Richard  S.  Aldrich 
Mr.  Stuart  M.  Aldrich 
Mr,  Devere  Allen 
Mr.  Philip  Allen 
Miss  Ada  Almy 
Mrs.  Everard  Appleton 
Miss  Maude  E,  Armstrong 
Mrs.  Edward  E.  Arnold 
Mr.  Frederick  W.  Arnold 
Miss  Mittie  Arnold 
Mr.  James  H.  Arthur 
Mr.  Donald  S.  Babcock 
Mr.  J.  Earle  Bacon 
Mr.  Albert  A.  Baker 
Mrs.  Charles  K.  Baker 
Mr.  Harvey  A.  Baker 
Mrs.  Horton  Baker 
Mrs.  Sarah  Minchin  Barker 
Miss  Sarah  Dyer  Barnes 
Mr.  Fred  H.  Barrows 
Mr.  Earl  G.  Batty 
Miss  Mariorie  L.  Bean 
Mrs.  Daniel  Beckwith 
Mr.  Henry  L.  P.  Beckwith 
Mr.  Frederic  N.  Beede 
Mr.  Herbert  G.  Beede 
Mrs.  Herbert  G.  Beede 
Mr.  Robert  J.  Beede 
Mr.  Horace  G.  Belcher 
Mr.  Charles  P.  Benns 
Mrs.  Charles  P.  Benns 
Mr.  Bruce  M.  Bigelow 


Mr.  George  E.  Bixby 
Mr.  Zenas  W.  Bliss 
Mr.  J.  J.  Bodell 
Mr.  Amos  M.  Bowen 
Mr.  Richard  LeB.  Bowen 
Rev.  Arthur  H.  Bradford 
Mr.  Claude  R.  Branch 
Dr.  William  G.  Braude 
Miss  Alice  Brayton 
Miss  Ida  F.  Bridgham 
Mrs.  William  E.  Brigham 
Mrs.  Clarence  A.  Brouwer 
Mr.  Clarence  Irving  Brown 
Mr.  Cyrus  P.  Brown 
Mr.  Frank  Hail  Brown 
Mr.  John  Nicholas  Brown 
Madelaine  R.  Brown,  M.D. 
Mr.  Wilbur  D.  Brown 
Capt.  Ernest  Henry  Brownell 
Miss  Madeleine  M.  Bubier 
Mr.  Harris  H.  Bucklin 
Mr.  Edward  J.  C.  Bullock 
Mr.  Mortimer  L.  Burbank 
Mr.  Edwin  A.  Burlingame 
Alfred  T.  Butler,  Esq. 
Col.  G.  Edward  Buxton 
Mrs.  Edwin  A.  Cady 
Mr.  John  H.  Cady 
Mrs.  Charles  A.  Calder 
Mrs.  W.  R.  Callender 
Mrs.  Wallace  Campbell 
Mr.  Thomas  B.  Card 
Mrs.  George  W.  Carr 
Miss  Anna  H.  Chace 
Mr.  Malcolm  G.  Chace 


26 


RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 


Mrs.  Everitte  S.  Chaffee 

Prof.  Robert  F.  Chambers 

Mr.  Arthur  D.  Champlin 

Mr.  George  B.  Champlin 

Miss  Anna  Chapin 

Charles  V.  Chapin,  M.D. 

Mrs.  Charles  V.  Chapin 

Mr.  Frederic  L.  Chase 

Mr.  Albert  W.  Claflin 

Mrs.  Edward  S.  Clark 

Prof.  Theodore  Collier 

Mrs.  Clarkson  A.  Collins,  Jr. 

Mr.  James  C.  Collins 

Mrs.' Charles  D.  Cook 

Mr.  Albert  B.  Coulters 

Prof.  Verner  W.  Crane 

Mr.  Frank  H.  Cranston 

Mr.  Harry  Parsons  Cross 

Frank  Anthony  Cummings,  M.D. 

Mrs.  Frank  Anthony  Cummings 

Mr.  Arthur  Cushing 

Prof.  S.  Foster  Damon 

Murray  S.  Danforth,  M.D. 

Mrs.  Murray  S.  Danforth 

Mr.  William  C.  Dart 

Mr.  Foster  B.  Davis 

Miss  Mary  Elliott  Davis 

Mrs.  R.  C.  Davis 

Prof.  Edmund  B.  Delabarre 

Mr.  Paul  C.  DeWolf 

Miss  Alice  S.  Dexter 

Miss  Eunice  W.  Dexter 

Mrs.  Leroy  E.  Dickinson 

Mr.  Walter  Frederick  Dickinson 

Miss  Louise  Diman 

John  E.  Donley,  M.D. 

Mr.  Louis  W.  Downes 

Mrs.  Louis  W.  Downes 

Mr.  Robert  T.  Downs 

Miss  Dorothy  D.  Dunlop 

Mr.  Henry  A.  DuVillard 

Miss  Margarethe  L.  Dwight 

Miss  Anna  Jones  Dyer 

Col.  H.  Anthony  Dyer 

Mr.  Charles  G.  Easton 


Mr.  Cyrus  T.  Eddy 

Miss  Isabel  Eddv 

Mrs.  William  Holden  Eddy 

Miss  Harriet  C.  Edmonds 

Mrs.  Seeber  Edwards 

Mr.  Walter  Angell  Edwards 

Mr.  Zenas  H.  Ellis 

Mr.  William  Ely 

Miss  Mabel  W.  Funis 

Mr.  William  Wood  Estes 

Mrs.  William  Wood  Estes 

Mr,  Charles  W.  Farnham 

Mr.  Royal  Bailey  Farnum 

Mr.  Walter  F.  Farrell 

Mrs.  Charles  Fletcher 

Mr.  Elliot  Flint 

Mr.  Allan  Forbes 

Mr.  Hovey  T.  Freeman 

Hon.  G.  Frederick  Frost 

Mr.  R.  Clinton  Fuller 

Frank  T.  Fulton,  M.D. 

Mr.  William  Gammell 

Mr.  William  Gammell,  Jr. 

Miss  Abbie  P.  Gardner 

Mrs.  George  Warren  Gardner 

Mrs.  John  T.  Gardner 

Mr.  Preston  Hicks  Gardner 

Mr.  Daniel  F.  George 

Mrs.  Louis  C.  Gerry 

Hon.  Peter  G.  Gerry 

Mrs.  Peter  G.  Gerry 

Mr.  Robert  H.  L  Goddard 

Rabbi  Israel  M.  Goldman 

Mr.  George  T.  Gorton 

Mr.  Harry  Hale  Goss 

Mrs.  Richard  Rathbornc  Graham 

Mr.  Eugene  S.  Graves 

Mrs.  Eugene  S.  Graves 

Miss  Eleanor  B.  Green 

Hon.  Theodore  Francis  Green 

Mr.  Dcnison  W.  Greene 

Mrs.  Joseph  Warren  Greene,  Jr. 

Mr.  Thomas  C.  Greene 

Mr.  Ralph  M.  Greenlaw 

Mr.  William  B.  Grcenough 


LIST  OF  MEMBERS 


27 


Mr.  Russell  Grinnell 
Mr.  E.  Tudor  Gross 
Mr.  R.  F.  Haffenreffer 
Mr.  John  W.  Halcy 
Miss  Annette  Mason  Ham 
Mrs.  Livingston  Ham 
Mrs.  Albert  G.  Harkness 
Mr.  Benjamin  P.  Harris 
Mr.  Edwin  Harris 
Mrs.  Thomas  Harris 
Mr.  Everett  S.  Hartwell 
N.  Darrell  Harvey,  M.D. 
Mr.  William  A.  Hathaway 
Miss  Caroline  Hazard 
Mr.  Thomas  G.  Hazard,  ]r. 
Mrs.  W.  E.  Heathcote 
Mr.  Coles  Hegeman 
Mr.  Bernon  E.  Helme 
Mr.  Joseph  G.  Henshaw 
Mr.  Robert  W.  Herrick 
Mr.  G.  Burton  Hibbert 
Mr.  Charles  f.  Hill 
Mr.  William  A.  Hill 
Mr.  Frank  L.  Hinckley 
Mr.  Richard  A.  Hoffman 
Mrs.  William  H.  Hoffman 
Mrs.  John  S.  Holbrook 
Mr.  George  J.  Holden 
Mrs.  John  W.  Holton 
Mrs.  Albert  Horton 
Mr.  Charles  A.  Horton 
Mr.  M.  A.  DeWolfe  Howe 
Mr.  Wallis  E.  Howe 
Mrs.  William  Erwin  Hoy 
Mrs.  George  H.  Huddy,  Jr. 
Mr.  Sidney  D.  Humphrey 
Mr.  S.  Foster  Hunt 
Mr.  James  H.  Hyde 
Mrs.  C.  Oliver  Iselin 
Mr.  Norman  M.  Isham 
Miss  Mary  A.  Jack 
Mrs.  Donald  Eldredge  Jackson 
Mrs.  Edward  P.  Jastram 
Mr.  Thomas  A.  jenckes 
Mrs.  Edward  L.  Johnson 


Mr.  William  C.  Johnson 

Mr.  Llewellyn  W.  Jones 

Dr.  Lewis  H.  Kalloch 

Mr.  Francis  B.  Keenev 

Mr.  Charles  A.  Keller' 

Mrs.  Francis  P.  Kent 

Mr.  Howard  R.  Kent 

Mr.  H.  Earle  Kimball 

Lucius  C.  Kingman,  M.D. 

Miss  Adelaide  Knight 

Mr.  C.  Prescott  Knight,  Jr. 

Mr.  Robert  L.  Knight 

Mrs.  Robert  L.  Knight 

Mr.  Russell  W.  Knight 

Mrs.  Dana  Lawrence 

Miss  Grace  F.  Leonard 

Mrs.  Austin  T.  Levy 

Mr.  Dexter  L.  Lewis 

Mr.  Charles  Warren  Lippitt 

Mrs.  Frances  Pomeroy  Lippitt 

Mr.  Gorton  T.  Lippitt 

Mr.  Arthur  B.  Lisle 

Mrs.  Arthur  B.  Lisle 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Littlefield 

Mr.  Ivory  Littlefield 

Rev.  Augustus  M.  Lord 

Mr.  T.  Robley  Louttit 

Mr.  W.  Easton  Louttit,  Jr. 

Mr.  David  B.  Lovell,  Jr." 

Mr.  Albert  E.  Lowncs 

Mr.  Harold  C.  Lyman 

Mr.  Richard  E.  Lyman 

Mr.  George  R.  McAuslan 

Mr.  William  A.  McAuslan 

Mr.  Norman  A.  MacColl 

Mr.  William  B.  MacColl 

Mr.  Arthur  M.  McCrillis 

Miss  Grace  E.  Macdonald 

Mr.  Benjamin  M.  MacDougall 

Miss  Muriel  McFee 

Mr.  Charles  B.  Mackinney 

Mr.  Ralph  A.  McLeod 

Mrs.  Herbert  E.  Maine 

Mrs.  William  L.  Manchester 


28 


RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 


Mr.  Charles  C.  Marshall 
Mr.  Edgar  W.  Martin 
Mrs.  John  F.  Marvel 
Mr.  Harold  Mason 
Mr.  John  H.  Mason 
Mr.  William  L.  Mauran 
Mrs.  William  L.  Mauran 
Mrs.  Frank  Everitt  Maxwell 
Mr.  Harry  V.  Mayo 
Mr.  W.  Granville  Meader 
Mrs.  Charles  H.  Merriman 
Mrs.  E.  Bruce  Merriman 
Mr.  Harold  T.  Merriman 
Mrs.  I.  B.  Merriman 
Mrs.  E.  T.  H.  Metcalf 
Mr.  G.  Pierce  Metcalf 
Mr.  Houghton  P.  Metcalf 
Mrs.  I.  Harris  Metcalf 
Hon.  Jesse  H.  Metcalf 
Mrs.  Jesse  H.  Metcalf 
Mr.  Stephen  O.  Metcalf 
Mr.  William  Davis  Miller 
Mrs.  William  Davis  Miller 
Mr.  George  L.  Miner 
Mr.  Marshall  Morgan 
Mr.  George  A.  Moriarty,  Jr. 
Mrs.  Bentley  W.  Morse 
Mr.  Edward  S.  Moulton 
Mrs.  Edward  S.  Moulton 
William  M.  Muncy,  M.D. 
Hon.  Addison  P.  Munroe 
Mr.  Walter  M.  Murdie 
Mr.  Wilfred  C.  Murphy 
Miss  Eliza  Taft  Newton 
Mr.  Roger  Hale  Newton 
Mr.  Paul  C.  Nicholson 
Mrs.  Raymond  M.  Nickerson 
Ira  Hart  Noves,  M.D. 
Miss  Mary  Olcott 
Mrs.  Frank  F.  Olney 
Mr.  Harald  W.  Ostby 
Mr.  G.  Richmond  Parsons 
Mrs.  G.  Richmond  Parsons 
Miss  Marv  H.  Parsons 


Mr.  Frederick  S.  Peck 

Mrs.  Frederick  S.  Peck 

Mr.  Horace  M.  Peck 

Mr.  Stephen  I.  Peck 

Mr.  William  H.  Peck 

Mrs.  F.  H.  Peckham 

Mr.  Clarence  E.  Peirce 

Mr.  John  P.  B.  Peirce 

Mr.  Charles  M.  Perry 

Mr.  Howard  B.  Perry 

John  M.  Peters,  M.D. 

Mr.  Arthur  L.  Philbrick 

Mr.  Charles  H.  Philbrick 

Mr.  Alexander  Van  Cleve  Phillips 

Mr.  Arthur  S.  Phillips 

Mrs.  Frank  Nichols  Phillips 

Mr.  Thomas  L.  Pierce 

Mr.  Albert  H.  Poland 

Prof.  Albert  K.  Potter 

Dr.  Arthur  M.  Potter 

Mrs.  Thomas  I.  Hare  Powel 

Miss  Ethelyn  Irene  Pray 

Mrs.  Howard  W.  Preston 

Mr.  Robert  Spencer  Preston 

Miss  Evelyn  M.  Purdy 

Helen  C.  Putnam,  M.D. 

Mr.  Patrick  H.  Quinn 

Mrs.  George  R.  Ramsbottom 

Mrs.  C.  K.  Rathbone 

Hon.  Elmer  J.  Rathbun 

Mrs.  Irving  E.  Raymond 

Mr.  Charles  C.  Remington 

Mr.  R.  Foster  Reynolds 

Rhode  Island  State  College 

Mr.  Dana  Rice 

Mr.  Herbert  W.  Rice 

Mrs.  Herbert  W.  Rice 

Mr.  Henry  Isaac  Richmond 

Mrs.  Fred  Robinson 

Mr.  Robert  Rodman 

Mr.  William  Greene  Roelker 

Mr.  Kenneth  Shaw  Safe 

Mrs.  Harold  P.  Salisbury 

!VIrs.  G.  Coburn  Sanctuary 

Mrs.  George  C.  Scott 


LIST  OF  MEMBERS 


29 


Mrs.  David  Sands  Seaman 
Mr.  Henry  M.  Sessions 
Miss  Ellen  D.  Sharpe 
Mr.  Henry  D.  Sharpe 
Eliot  A.  Shaw,  M.D. 
Mrs.  Frederick  E.  Shaw 
Mrs.  Philip  C.  Sheldon 
Mr.  Robert  F.  Shepard 
Mr.  Clarence  E.  Sherman 
Mr.  Harry  B.  Sherman 
Mrs.  Arthur  F.  Short 
Mrs.  Byron  N.  H.  Smith 
Mrs.  Charles  H.  Smith 
Mrs.  Edwin  C.  Smith 
Mr.  Howard  B.  Smith 
Hon.  Nathaniel  W.  Smith 
R.  Morton  Smith,  M.D. 
Mr.  Walter  B.  Smith 
Mr.  Ward  E.  Smith 
Miss  Hattie  O.  E.  Spaulding 
Mrs.  James  G.  Staton 
Hon.  Charles  F.  Stearns 
Mrs.  Charles  F.  Stearns 
Mr.  Thomas  E.  Steere 
Miss  Maud  Lyman  Stevens 
Mr,  Edward  Clinton  Stiness 
Mr.  Charles  C.  Stover 
Mrs.  Charles  C.  Stover 
Mr.  Henry  A.  Street 
Mr.  Frank  H.  Swan 
Hon.  John  W.  Sweeney 
Dr.  Walter  I.  Sweet 
Mrs.  Walter  I.  Sweet 
Miss  Louisa  A.  Sweetland 
Mr.  Royal  C.  Taft 
Prof.  Will  S.  Tavlor 
Mrs.  J.  P.  Thorndike 


Louisa  Paine  Tinglev,  M.D. 
Mr.  F.  L.  Titsworth 
Mrs.  William  O.  Todd 
Mrs.  Anthonv  M.  Tourtellot 
Mr.  William  J.  Tully 
Mr.  George  R.  L^rquhart 
Hon.  William  H.  \'anderbilt 
Mrs.  Helen  C.  \'ose 
Mr.  A.  Tingley  Wall 
Mrs.  Maurice  K.  Washburn 
Mr.  Slater  Washburn 
Mr.  Frank  E.  Waterman 
Mrs.  Lewis  A.  Waterman 
Prof.  Arthur  E.  Watson 
Col.  Byron  S.  Watson 
Mr.  Richard  Ward  Greene  Welling 
Mr.  John  H.  Wells 
Mr.  Philip  C.  Wentworth 
Mrs.  Philip  C.  Wentworth 
Mr.  Edward  H.  West 
Mrs.  Frank  Williams  Westcott 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  N.  White 
Mr.  Willis  H.  White 
Mrs.  Henry  A.  Whitmarsh 
Mr.  Frederick  Bernavs  Wiener 
Mr.  Frank  J.  Wilder' 
Mr.  Daniel  L.  Willmarth,  Jr. 
Miss  Amey  L.  Willson 
'Mr.  William  A.  Wing 
Mr.  Wilson  G.  Wing 
Mrs.  George  P.  Winship 
Rev,  William  Worthington 
Mr.  Nathan  M.  Wright 
Mrs.  Sydney  L.  Wright,  Jr. 
Dr.  Henry  M.  Wriston 
Mr.  Lawrence  C.  Wroth 
Mr.  Frederick  W.  York 


Mr.  Ernest  G.  Adams 
Mr.  Herbert  M.  Adams 
Mr.  Arthur  M.  Allen 
Lt.  Col.  Howard  V.  Allen 
Miss  Mary  B.  Anthony 
Mr.  Theodore  H.  Bliss 


NEW  MEMBERS 

Mr.  Richard  Bowen 
Mr.  J.  Cunliffe  Bullock 
Mr.  George  H.  Capron 
Mr.  Henry  S.  Chafee 
Mr.  John  S.  Chafee 
Mr.  Zecharlah  Chafee 


30 


RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 


Mr.  Zechariah  Chafec,  Jr. 
Mr.  G.  Maurice  Congdon 
Mr.  Dudley  R.  Cowles 
Mr.  Henry  B.  Cross 
Mrs.  Edith  Roelker  Curtis 
Mr.  David  Dalv 
Halsey  DeWolf,  M.D. 
Dr.  Alexander  Dorner 
Mr.  Robert  B.  Dresser 
Mr.  John  L.  Easton,  Jr. 
Mr.  Gurney  Edwards 
Mr.  William  H.  Edwards 
Mr.  M.  Randolph  Flather 
Rev.  Frederick  S.  Fleming 
Mr.  George  D.  Flynn 
Mrs.  Frank  B.  Fox 
Mr.  Thomas  A.  Francis 
Mr.  Charles  VV.  Freeman 
Mr.  Clarke  Freeman 
Mr.  Evert  W.  Freeman 
Mrs.  Hovey  T.  Freeman 
Mr.  George  W.  Gardiner 
Mrs.  Howard  Johnson  Greene 
Mr.  Gerald  T.  Hanley 
Dr.  James  L.  Hanley 
Mr.  L.  Newton  Hayes 
Mrs.  Lauriston  H.  Hazard 
Mr.  Clifford  D.  Heathcote 
Hon.  Felix  Hebert 
Mr.  Walter  Lee  Hidden 
Mr.  Howard  L.  Hitchcock 
Mr.  W.  Harold  Hoffman 
Mr.  Charles  C.  Horton 
Mr,  Garry  C.  House 
Mr.  Maxwell  C.  Huntoon 
Mr.  William  S.  Innis 
Mr.  Harry  Leob  Jacobs 
Mr.  Chester  D.  Johnstone 
Mr.  J.  D.  E.  Jones 
Mr.  A.  Livingston  Kelley 
Mr.  Eugene  A.  Kingman 
Mr.  Henry  D.  Knight 
Mr.  Lawrence  Lanpher 
Mr.  George  E.  Leighton 
Mr.  John  B.  Lewis 
Mrs.  Henry  F.  Lippitt 
Mr.  Frederick  B.  Luce 


Dr.  Stephen  B.  Luce 
Mrs.  Hugh  F.  MacColl 
Hon.  J.  Howard  McGrath 
Mr.  Colin  MacR.  Makepeace 
Mr.  George  T.  Marsh 
Mr.  Carl  B.  Marshall 
Dr.  Albert  D.  Mead 
Mr.  Charles  H.  Merriman 
Dr.  Kenneth  B.  Murdock 
Mr.  Barnes  Newberry 
Rabbi  Louis  L  Newman 
Miss  Martha  S.  Nicholson 
Mrs.  Paul  C.  Nicholson 
Mr.  Gordon  L.  Parker 
Mr.  Eliot  G.  Parkhurst 
Rev.  Anthony  R.  Parshley 
Dr.  Harold  f.  Pearcc 
Rt.  Rev.  James  DeWolf  Perry 
Mr.  Edward  H.  Rathbun 
Mr.  Louis  M.  Ream 
Mr.  Ralph  Richards 
Mr.  Frank  E.  Richmond 
Mr.  Howard  A.  Richmond 
Mrs.  Howard  A.  Richmond 
Mr.  Charles  B.  Rockwell 
Miss  Nancy  L.  Roelker 
Mrs.  William  G.  Roelker 
Mr.  Morgan  W.  Rogers 
Arthur  H.  Ruggles,  M.D. 
Mr.  Gordon  Schonfarber 
Mr.  Philip  B.  Simonds 
Hon.  Charles  P.  Sisson 
Mrs.  Rush  Sturges 
Mr.  Harrison  Southwick  Taft 
Mr.  Harold  B.  Tanner 
Mr.  J.  P.  Thorndike 
Mr.  Frederick  W.  Tillinghast 
Mr.  Leonard  C.  Tingley 
Mr,  Raymond  H.  Trott 
Mr.  James  A.  T\'son 
Dr.  Henry  B.  \  an  Hoesen 
Mr.  Richmond  \'ia]l 
Mrs.  Frederic  A.  Wallace 
Mr,  John  C,  B.  Washburn 
Mr.  Howard  H.  Wilkinson 
Dr.  Frederick  R.  Wulsin 


ACCKSSIONS   TO   THE   LIBRARY  31 

A  Partial  List  of 
Accessions  to  the  Library 

Anonymous,  Dictionary  of  American  Biography y  21  vol- 
umes (New  York,  1928-37). 

Arnold,  Hoffman  &  Co.,  Inc.,  Medal  and  pamphlet,  Com- 
}iie}}wrating  the  one  hundred  and  tivenly- fifth  anni- 
versary of  Arnold,  Hoffman  <y  Co.,  Inc.,  1 815-1940 
(Providence,  1940). 

Dr.  Asa  S.  Briggs,  The  MacSparran  Diary  (  Boston,  1899) 
edited  by  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin ;  The  Lands  of  Rhode 
Island  (Providence,  1904)  by  Sidney  S.  Rider j 
Westerly  and  Its  Witnesses  (Providence,  1878)  by 
Rev.  Frederic  Denison. 

Eugene  A.  Clauss,  The  Providence  Athenaeum  (Provi- 
dence, 1939). 

Congdon  &  Carpenter  Co.,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty  Years, 
Congdon  ^5'  Carpenter  Company  (Providence,  1940). 

Mrs.  Henry  F.  Lippitt,  Domestic  Manners  of  the  Amer- 
icans (Great  Britain,  1927)  by  Frances  Trollope; 
Forty  Years  in  Washington  (Boston,  1924)  by  David 
S.  Barry;  Handbook  of  Nezv  England  (Boston,  1921) 
by  Porter  E.  Sargent;  Three  Generations  (Boston, 
1923)  by  Maud  Howe  Elliott;  Sketches  of  America 
(London,  England,  1818)  by  Henry  B.  Fearon. 

William  G.  Mather,  Cotton  Mather:  A  Bibliography  of 
His  Works  (Cambridge,  Mass.,  1940)  by  Thomas 
James  Holmes. 

Rhode  Island  Society  of  Colonial  Wars,  The  Palatine  Ship 
(Central  Falls,  R.  I.,  1939). 

Willis  H.  White,  Proceedings  of  Neii-port  Natural  History 
Society  Documents  1-4,  6,  9  (Newport,  1883-1900); 
the  Westminster  Unitarian  Society  1S2S-1928  (Prov- 
idence, 1928)  by  Rev,  George  E.  Hathaway. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  N.  White,  Christian  Peake  (1939)  by  Eliz- 
abeth N.  White. 


32  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Manuscripts 

By  gift  from: 

Dr.  Asa  S.  Briggs,  Records  of  First  Seventh  Day  Church  of 
Hofkintofiy  R.  I.y  1690-1716,  copied  by  Louise  Pros- 
ser  Bates. 

William  Allan  Dyer,  Genealogical  Record  "By  the  Name 
of  Dyer.'^ 

Henry  A.  Greene,  Promissory  Note  $1.00,  Farmer's  Ex- 
change Bank. 

Serril  W.  Nicholas,  Family  of  Rev.  William  Moore  of 
Newport. 

Miss  Mary  W.  Peckham,  5  letters  and  documents  (1807- 
2)S)  relative  to  Thomas  W.  Peckham. 

Commander  Simon  Ray  Sands,  Map  of  Block  Island  show- 
ing land  set  aside  for  1 6  original  owners. 

John  A.  Street,  3  documents  (1784-1802)  relative  to 
Hezekiah  Olney. 

F.  L.  Titsworth,  Records  of  the  Pomham  Club,  1882-1902. 

James  A.  Tyson,  2  Attorney  Day  Books  1 823-34  and  1 845- 
51  j  and  7  Account  Books  1803-1836. 

OTHER  MATERIAL 

Relative  to  the  elections  of  1840,  1884,  1888  and  1940 
presented  by  Mrs.  Lawrence  Lanpher,  Hon.  Peter  G. 
Gerry,  F.  G.  Valpey,  Henry  A.  Greene,  Nelson  H.  Thorp 
and  Democratic  State  Central  Committee. 

RHODE  ISLAND  BOOKS  PURCHASED 

Gilbert  Stuart  and  His  Pupils  (New  York  City,  1939)  by 

John  Hill  Morgan. 

The  Irrepressible  Democrat,  Roger  Williams  (New  York 

City,  1940)  by  Samuel  H.  Brockunier. 

Rhode  Island  Architecture  (Providence,  1939)  by  Henry 

R.  Hitchcock,  Jr. 

Roger  Williams,  His  Life,  Work  and  Ideals  (Washington, 

D.  C,  1939)  by  Charles  S.  Longacre. 


CT^'he  Historical  Societies  of  the  United 
^-^  States  have  many  and  interesting  functions. 
They  must  collect  and  preserve  historical  material, 
printed  and  manuscript,  and  must  maintain  libraries 
and  museums,  well  catalogued  and  accessible;  they 
must  print  and  publish;  they  must  arouse  public 
interest,  and  keep  alive  a  patriotic  regard  for  local 
history;  they  must  take  part  in  celebrations;  they 
must  accumulate  biographical  and  obituary  records; 
they  must  attract  money  and  members.  We  all 
know  that,  considering  their  resources,  they  do  most 
of  these  things  exceedingly  well.  Each  of  us  knows 
the  serious  efforts  which  his  own  society  makes  to 
accomplish  these  tasks;  each  of  us  is  under  frequent 
obligations  to  other  societies  for  the  fruits  of  their 
zealous  and  successful  labors.  The  development  of 
their  libraries  in  particular  can  not  fail  to  excite 
admiration.  It  may  be  said  with  confidence  that 
there  is  no  other  country  in  the  world  in  which  the 
libraries  of  historical  societies  have  so  important  a 
place  as  they  have  among  the  libraries  of  the  United 
States. 

J.  Franklin  Jameson,  Annual  Re  fort  of  the 
American  Historical  Association,   1897,  5  3. 


RHODE  ISLAND 


HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


Rhode    Island 

Historical     Society 

Collections 


Vol.  XXXIV 


APRIL,   1941 


No.  2 


GILBERT    STUART,    AETAT    69.       PORTRAIT     BUST     FROM     THE     LIFE    MASK 
BY    JOHN    HENRI    ISAACS    BROWERE     (1792-1834). 

Courtesy  of  the  Redtcood  Library,  Nezcport 

Issued  Quarterly 
68  Waterman  Street,  Providence,  Rhode  Island 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Portrait  Bust  of  Gii^bert  Stuart 

by  John  Henri  Isaacs  Browcrc         .....     Cover 

What  Was  Gilbert  Stuart's  Name? 

by  John  Hill  Morgan 33 

Narragansett 

by  William  Davis  Miller 44 

A  Colonial  Merchant  to  His  Son 

Edited  by  Frank  Hail  Brown  .....  47 

The  Irrepressible  Democrat:    Roger  Williams 

by  Samuel  Hugh  Brockunicr  .  .  .  .  .  .  57 

Rez'iezced  by  Lawrence  C.  Wnjtli 

Thomas  Tefft,  Progressive  Rhode  Islander 

by  Barbara  Wriston        .......  60 

Treasurer's  Report  ........  62 

Third 
Old  Central  Baptist  Church,  Providence         .  .  Cover 

Back 
New  Members  since  January  4,  1941  .  .  .  Cover 


RHODE       'M±^       ISLAND 
HISTORICAL     ^m(W/  SOCIETY 

COLLECTIONS 

Vol.  XXXIV  APRIL,   1941  No.  2 

Charles  F.  Stearns,  President  Robert  T.  Downs,  Treasurer 

William  Davis  Miller,  Secretary        William  G.  Roelker,  Librarian 


The  Society  assumes  no  responsibility  for  the  statements  or  the  opinions 
of  contributors. 


What  Was  Gilbert  Stuart's  Name? 

John  Hill  Morgan* 

Stuart,  the  famous  painter,  was  christened  "Gilbert," 
but  the  wiseacres  of  our  Post  Office  Department  have  seen 
fit  to  dub  him  "Gilbert  Charles  Stuart."  Its  decision  on 
a  question  of  fact  of  this  kind  would  be  of  no  importance 
had  not  the  power,  inherent  in  the  Department,  permitted 
it  to  issue  a  set  of  stamps,  commemorative  of  illustrious 
Americans;  the  one  cent  variety  of  which  bears  a  poor  like- 
ness of  the  painter,  with  his  name  engraved  as  "Gilbert 
Charles  Stuart."  Plate  1. 

How  many  millions  of  one  cent  stamps  will  be  sold  from 
this  issue  and,  as  the  inevitable  result,  how  many  individuals 
will  come  to  believe  that  "Gilbert  Charles  Stuart"  was 
indeed  his  name,  lies  in  the  realm  of  pure  conjecture  and 
need  not  be  here  considered. 


*  John  Hill  Morgan  is  an  eminent  authority  on  early  American  por- 
trait painters  and  has  written  many  books  and  articles  on  the  subject, 
among  them  being  Early  Amei-ican  Painters,  A  Sketch  of  the  Lije  of 
Gilbert  Stuart,  Gilbert  Stuart  and  His  Pufils  and  (with  Mantle  Fielding) 
Life  Portraits  of  George  Washington  and  their  Reflicas. 


34 


RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 


PLATE  I 


STAMP  ISSUED  BY  THE  POST  OF- 
FICE DAPARTMENT  SEPTEMBER 
5,  1940,  GIVING  THE  painter's 
NAME  AS  gilbert  CHARLES 
STUART, 


But  the  facts  should  be  made  available  somewhere  to 
those  interested  and  it  is  with  this  thought  in  mind  that 
the  following  has  been  written. 

Let  us  rid  ourselves  first  of  a  less  important  but  con- 
nected matter,  i.e.,  as  to  the  likeness  of  Stuart  which  appears 
on  the  stamp:  there  are  several  portraits  of  Stuart  and  it 
would  seem  that  the  miniature  by  Sarah  Goodridge  was 
the  one  used  by  the  engraver.  While  it  is  known  that  Jane 
Stuart  preferred  this  to  other  painted  portraits  of  her 
father,  that  does  not  necessarily  make  it  a  good  likeness, 
as  the  reputation  of  Sarah  Goodridge,  among  the  painters 
of  miniatures,  is  not  high. 

Why  the  dignified  and,  in  some  ways,  pathetic  bust  of 
Stuart  in  old  age  by  J.  H.  I.  Browere,  (Redwood  Library, 
Newport),  was  not  chosen  will,  perhaps,  ever  remain  a 
mystery.  Concerning  this  likeness  Jane  Stuart  wrote: 
"This  head  was  a  cast  made  over  his  face,  and  was  a  living 
and  most  beautiful  thing."  As  it  is,  the  engraver  of  the 
stamp — which  is  of  a  sickly  green  color — has  succeeded 
admirably  in  making  Stuart  resemble  an  anxious  rabbit — 
a  characterization  of  him,  which  is  at  least,  somewhat  novel. 


To  return  to  our  main  subject,  what  was  Gilbert  Stuart's 
name?  Our  inquiry  must  take  the  form  of  rehearsing  the 
facts  which  prove  that  although  baptized  "Gilbert  Stuart," 


WHAT  WAS  GILBERT  STUARt's  NAME  35 

for  a  short  period  early  in  his  life,  Stuart  himself  adopted 
"Charles"  for  his  middle  name. 

The  error  of  the  use  of  the  name  "Charles"  dates  back 
to  our  hrst  book  on  American  art  by  William  Dunlap/ 
published  by  him  in  1834.  This  work  has  preserved  for 
us  the  names  of  most  of  our  early  artists,  going  back  into 
the  Colonial  times  and,  as  such,  its  importance  should  not 
be  underestimated.  So  much  has  been  written  as  to  the 
inaccuracies  appearing  in  Dunlap,  that  it  would  seem  un- 
necessary to  state  the  facts  again,  except  that  their  repeti- 
tion makes  clear  the  origin  of  his  error.  At  the  time  Dunlap 
wrote,  the  railroad  had  not  come  into  being  and,  although 
transportation  by  water  and  post  road  along  the  Atlantic 
seaboard  was  fairly  satisfactory,  it  was  not  the  habit  of 
Dunlap  or  other  historians  of  his  day  to  make  journeys 
to  distant  cities  for  the  purpose  of  searching  the  records 
first-hand.  Dunlap  accumulated  most  of  his  facts  by 
correspondence.  What  he  did  was  to  write  to  living 
artists  for  biographical  facts  and,  concerning  those  dead, 
he  corresponded  with  their  friends  and  often  requested 
information  about  other  artists  living  or  dead  in  distant 
neighborhoods.  It  inevitably  followed  from  this  method 
that  Dunlap's  published  statements  depend  upon  the  accu- 
racy or  bias  of  his  correspondents,  and  as  these  in  turn  had 
an  aversion  to  the  boring  task  of  consulting  records,  their 
contributions  often  consisted  of  more  or  less  inaccurate 
anecdotes.  In  the  case  in  point,  the  opening  paragraphs  of 
Dunlap's  biography  of  Gilbert  Stuart  read  as  follows: 

"Having  arrived  at  that  period  which  is  made 
memorable  in  the  history  of  American  arts,  by  the 
commencement  of  the  career  in  portrait-painting  of 
one  who  has  yet  no  rival,  we,  in  accordance  with  our 
plan,  give  here  a  biographical  notice  of  Gilbert  Charles 
Stuart,  born  in  1754. 


^  A   History  of  the  Rise  and  Progress  of  the  Arts  of  Design  in  the 
United  States.  William  Dunlap.   2  Vols.  (New  York,  1834.) 


36  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

"AsM.  [sic,  Mr.?  ]  Stuart  dropped  the  middle  name 
of  'Charles,'  we  will  give  our  reasons  for  restoring  it 
to  him.  He  was  thus  baptized,  and  it  marks  the  attach- 
ment of  his  father  to  the  worthless  dynasty  so  long 
adhered  to  by  the  Scotch.  He  bore  the  three  names 
until  after  manhood.  Dr.  Waterhouse,  his  friend  and 
schoolfellow,  in  a  letter  before  us,  dated  27th  of  May, 
1833,  says,  'I  have  cut  from  one  of  Stuart's  letters 
his  signature  of  G.  C.  Stuart,  i.e.  Gilbert  Charles 
Stuart.  I  have  some  doubt  whether  his  widow  and 
children  ever  knew  that  he  had  the  middle  name  of 
Charles.'  When  writing  his  name  on  his  own  portrait, 
in  1778,  he  omitted  the  'C  The  inscription  is 
*G.  Stuart,  Picior,  se  If  so  pnxit^  A.D.  1778,  aetatis 
sua  24.*' 

Reducing  this  paragraph  to  its  lowest  terms  for  the  pur- 
pose of  this  inquiry,  results  in  this:  that  Stuart  had  dropped 
his  middle  name  of  "Charles"  and  Dunlap  restores  it  to 
him  because  Dunlap  believed  that,  "He  was  thus  baptized." 
Plate  2  is  a  photostatic  copy  of  Stuart's  baptismal  record 
from  the  original  volume  owned  by  St.  Paul's  (the  old 
Narragansett)  Church,  now  on  file  in  the  office  of  the 
Town  Clerk  of  North  Kingstown,  at  Wickford,  Rhode 
Island.  This  proves  without  any  question  that  Stuart's 
given  name  was  "Gilbert."  Had  Dunlap  himself,  visited 
St.  Paul's  Church  and  examined  the  record  he  would  not 

PLATE  2 
THE    RECORD    OF    STUARt's    BAPTISM     IX     ST.     PAUL's     (tHE     OLD 
narragansett)    church,  wickford,    R.     I.,    PROVING    THAT    HIS 


GIVEN    NAME    WAS    "GILBERT." 


Op.  cit.    Vol.  I,  pp.  161-2. 


WHAT  WAS  GILBERT  STUART's  NAME  2)7 

have  made  the  error  he  did,  but  he  relied  on  Dr.  Water- 
house,  to  his  cost.  His  letter,  as  published  by  Dunlap,  does 
not  state  that  the  painter  was  christened  "Gilbert  Charles  j" 
all  it  proves  is  that  Dr.  Waterhouse  owned  a  letter  signed 
"G.  C.  Stuart."  As  the  art  writers  of  the  forty  years  follow- 
ing Dunlap's  book  showed  the  same  aversion  to  examining 
records,  taking  the  easier  course  of  copying  Dunlap,  it  has 
followed  that  the  name  "Charles"  was  occasionally  inserted 
into  Stuart's  name  by  careless  writers.  It  would  be  of  no 
profit  to  go  through  the  long  list  of  those  w^ho  copied  this 
error,  but  the  two  most  important  should  be  analyzed. 

Probably  the  most  unreliable  of  all  authorities  on  our 
early  painters  is  Henry  T.  Tuckerman's  Book  of  the  Artist 
(New  York,  1867).  On  page  8  of  Volume  I,  this  author 
refers  to  "Gilbert  Stuart;"  at  page  107,  he  begins  his 
biography  of  the  artist  as  follows: 

"Charles  Gilbert  Stuart  was  born  in  Narragansett,  R.  I. 
in  1756;"  while  on  page  108,  referring  to  Stuart's  mother 
he  remarks: 

"Her  son  Gilbert  was  named  Gilbert  Charles  Stuart." 
Just  which  of  these  names  did  Tuckerman  think  he  bore, 
"Charles  Gilbert"  or  "Gilbert  Charles"?  We  shall  never 
know! 

There  are  but  five  facts  stated  in  the  first  excerpt  and 
admitting  the  first  two;  that  Stuart  was  born,  and  born  in 
Rhode  Island;  of  the  remaining  three,  we  point  out  that 
Stuart  was  not  born  in  Narragansett,  but  in  the  township  of 
North  Kingstown  in  the  Narragansett  Country;  that  he  was 
not  born  in  1756  but  on  December  3rd,  1755,  and  nobody 
before  or  since — not  even  our  Post  Office  Department — 
has  named  him  "Charles  Gilbert."  Three  errors  in  one  line 
of  type  is  quite  an  accomplishment  even  for  Tuckerman. 
So  much  for  the  first  error. 

Next  Jane  Stuart  published  three  articles  concerning  her 
distinguished  father  in  Scribner^s  Monthly.  One,  entitled 
"The  Youth  of  Gilbert  Stuart  By  His  Daughter,"  Scrib- 
ner^s  Monthly y  March  1877,  printed  the  baptismal  record 


38  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

(p.  641)  showing  that  his  given  name  was  "Gilbert," 
but  referring  to  her  grandfather  Gilbert  Stuart  and  his 
wife  she  wrote: 

"Their  son,  Gilbert  Charles  Stuart,  artist,  was  born 
on  the  3^  of  December,  1755." 

It  thus  appears  that  although  Miss  Stuart  had  the  record 
before  her  and  thus  knew  that  he  was  christened  "Gilbert," 
still  she  inserted  the  name  "Charles."  Her  other  articles 
were  "The  Stuart  Portraits  of  Washington"  and  "Anec- 
dotes of  Gilbert  Stuart"  which  appeared  in  Scribner^s 
Monthly,  July  1876  and  July  1877,  respectively.  Nowhere 
else,  except  in  the  excerpt  given  above,  did  she  speak  of 
her  father  other  than  as  Gilbert  Stuart. 

If  Jane  Stuart  really  thought  her  father's  name  was 
"Gilbert  Charles"  why  did  she  not  use  it  in  the  title  to  her 
articles?  Elsewhere  the  writer  has  pointed  out  the  un- 
reliability of  Jane  Stuart's  dreams  as  to  the  gentle  birth 
of  her  grandfather  and  of  his  having  taken  any  part  in  the 
Rebellion  of  1745-46  in  favor  of  Prince  Charles  Edward, 
"The  Young  Pretender."  The  conclusion  being  that  could 
she  link  her  grandfather  with  the  Royal  House  of  Stuart 
and  the  romance  of  a  lost  cause  it  would  add  dignity  to  her 
ancestry.^  So  in  her  article  on  her  father,  with  the  proof 
staring  her  in  the  face,  she  could  not  give  up  her  own 
romance. 

The  most  important  biography  of  Stuart  appearing  in 
the  two  generations  after  Dunlap,  was  that  by  George  C. 
Mason,  published  in  1879.  In  the  preface  to  his  work  the 
author  writes  as  follows: 

"This  biography  of  Gilbert  Stuart  was  written  at 
the  request  of  Miss  Jane  Stuart,  the  only  surviving 
member  of  Mr.  Stuart's  family.  Miss  Stuart  intended 
to  prepare  it  herself,  and  had  published  three  papers 


^  Gilbert  Stuart,  An  Illustrate^/  Descriptive  List  of  His  Works,  compiled 
by  Lawrence  Park  with  an  account  of  his  life  by  John  Hill  Morgan. 
Vol.  I,  pp.   11,  12. 


WHAT  WAS  GILBERT  STUARt's  NAME  39 

on  the  subject  in  Scrlbner^s  Monthly,  but  finding 
the  work  too  laborious,  owing  to  the  demands  of  her 
profession  on  her  time,  and  the  difficulty  experienced 
in  searching  out  the  pictures  painted  by  Stuart  (now 
widely  scattered),  it  was  assigned  by  her  to  other 
hands  j   .   .   ." 

When  Mason  discussed  the  painter's  name  he  wrote  as 
follows: 

"To  the  house  and  mill  on  the  Petaquamscott  .  .  . 
he  [Gilbert  Stuart,  Sr.]  took  his  bride,  and  in  that 
quiet  retreat  three  children  were  born  to  them — 
James,  who  died  in  infancy,  Ann,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Henry  Newton,  and  the  mother  of  Stuart  Newton 
[the  artist],  and  Gilbert,  who  was  born  December  3*^, 
1755." 

After  printing  the  baptismal  record:  "April  1 1th,  1756, 
being  Palm  Sunday,  Doctor  McSparran  read  prayers, 
preached,  and  baptized  a  child  named  Gilbert  Stewart,  son 
of  Gilbert  Stewart,  the  snuff -grinder,"* 

He  added:  "In  this  entry  two  things  are  noticeable, 
— the  spelling  of  Stuart's  name,  and  the  absence  of 
"Charles"  after  the  Gilbert:  he  having  been  known 
in  early  life  as  Gilbert  Charles  Stuart.  The  first  may 
be  easily  traced  to  inadvertency  in  making  the  entry  j 
and  the  inserting  of  the  Charles  in  the  child's  name 
was  probably  an  after-thought  of  his  father,  who  was 
as  much  of  a  Jacobite  as  was  his  friend  and  country- 
man. Dr.  Moffatt.  The  "Charles,"  Stuart  dropped  in 
after  years,  and  answered  only  to  the  name  of  Gilbert 
Stuart.'" 

This,  we  think,  presents  the  solution  of  the  use  by  the 
painter  of  the  name  "Charles."    Mason  was  a  trained 

■*  Mason's  version  differs  slightly  from  the  original  record,  see  Plate  2. 
"  The  Life  and  Works  of  Gilbert  Stuart  bv  George  C.  Mason.  (New 
York,  Charles  Scribner's  Sons.    1879),  p.  2. 


40  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

writer  of  history.  He  knew  the  superior  value  of  the 
original  record  over  friendly  gossip  or  family  tradition. 
He  also  had  the  advantage  of  the  help  of  Miss  Stuart,  and 
his  conclusion  that  Stuart  for  some  reason  used  the  name 
"Charles"  for  a  short  period  in  early  manhood  is  borne  out 
by  such  facts  as  have  come  to  light. 

^        ^        ^        ^ 

What  are  these  facts  which  would  suggest  the  reason 
for  Stuart's  adoption  of  "Charles"  as  a  middle  name? 

There  was  a  considerable  colony  of  Scotsmen  living  in 
Newport  in  the  painter's  youth  with  which  the  Stuart 
family  were  intimate.  We  know  that  the  partner  of  Stuart, 
Sr.  was  Dr.  James  Moffatt,  a  Scotsman  and  also  that  he  it 
was  who  induced  Stuart  to  emigrate  from  Perth,  Scotland, 
to  Newport.  Cosmo  Alexander,  a  Scotch  artist,  arrived  in 
Newport  somewhere  around  1770,  and  young  Stuart  be- 
came his  pupil,  and  accompanied  him  on  a  trip  through 
the  southern  colonies  and  then  to  Scotland.  The  only  sure 
date  we  have  concerning  this  trip  is  that  of  Cosmo  Alexan- 
der's death  which  occurred  there,  late  in  August,  1 772.  We 
know  that  after  this  event  Stuart  attempted  to  support 
himself  by  painting  portraits  and,  returning  to  Newport 
some  time  in  the  year  1 773,  remained  in  Rhode  Island  until 
the  spring  of  1775.  His  father  was  then  making  arrange- 
ments to  emigrate  to  Nova  Scotia  with  his  family  but  the 
son  evidently  disliking  the  move  sailed  for  England,  we 
are  told,  alone,  with  little  money  and  but  one  letter  of 
introduction  in  his  pocket,  to  Alexander  Grant,  a  Scots- 
man living  in  London. 

Stuart's  boyhood  friend,  Benjamin  Waterhouse,  com- 
pleting his  studies  in  Edinburgh,  arrived  in  London  in  the 
summer  of  1776  and  there  found  Stuart,  lodging  probably 
with  one  John  Palmer  in  "York-buildings"  with  but  one 
picture  on  his  easel,  a  family  group  being  painted  for 
Alexander  Grant. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  at  this  time  Stuart  used 
the  name  "Gilbert  Charles,"  an  example  being  the  letter 
(signed  G.  C.  Stuart)  to  Benjamin  West  wherein  Stuart 


WHAT  WAS  GILBERT  STUARt's  NAME  41 

begged  his  help.  The  letter  is  not  dated,  but  Stuart  wrote: 

"I've  just  arriv'd  att  the  age  of  21." 

This  proves  that  it  was  written  after  December  3rd,  1776, 
Stuart's  twenty-first  birthday.''  Dr.  Waterhouse  owned  an 
early  letter  similarly  signed  of  which  he  wrote  Dunlap. 
After  entering  Benjamin  West's  studio  as  a  pupil,  prob- 
ably in  the  spring  of  1777,  Stuart  exhibited  in  the  Royal 
Academy  of  that  year  and  the  catalogue  names  him,  "G.  C. 
Stuart  27  Villers  Street,  Strand."  Stuart  exhibited  in  the 
Royal  Academy  in  1779,  wherein  he  is  named  "G.  Stuart 
at  Mr.  West's,  Newman  Street."  The  catalogue  of  the 
Incorporated  Society  of  Artists  of  1783  lists  him  as  "Gil- 
bert Charles."  His  own  self-portrait  in  the  Redwood 
Library,  Newport,  is  signed  "G.  Stuart,  Picfor,  se  ipso 
■p'mxit,  A.D.  177 8 y  aetatts  sua  24." 

An  important  reference  to  Stuart's  use  of  the  name 
"Charles"  can  be  deduced  from  a  letter  of  Sir  John  Dick 
addressed  to  Sir  Alexander  Dick.  The  story  is  told  in 
Cwiosities  of  a  Scots  Charter  Chest  by  the  Hon.  Mrs. 
Athol  Forbes,  (pp.  308,  316),'  but  it  is  enough  here  to  say 
that  Sir  John  had  had  his  portrait  painted  for  the  family 
home  Prestonfield,  Scotland  and  wrote  Sir  Alexander  Dick 
on  December  14,  1783  saying  that, 

"The  Painter's  Name  is  Charles  Stuart,  an  Ameri- 
can, was  some  time  at  Edinburgh,  where  he  did  several 
Pictures,  since  that  he  has  studied  under  M*"  West 
and  is  I  think  one  of  the  best  Portrait  Painters  here 
[London]." 

That  Stuart  liked  the  name  appears  from  the  fact  that  he 
christened  his  son  Charles  Gilbert.  From  this  it  would 
appear  that  Gilbert  Stuart,  Scotch  by  ancestry,  associating 


**  This  letter  is  reproduced  in  facsimile  in  the  writer's  biography  of 
Stuart  contained  in  Gilbert  Stuart  compiled  by  Lawrence  Park  Vol.  I, 
p.  29. 

'  This  letter  is  discussed  in  Gilbert  Stuart  and  His  Pupils  by  John  Hill 
Morgan.    (New  York  Historical  Society,  1939),  pp.  12,  13. 


42  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

with  Scotch  people  in  Newport,  Edinburgh  and  in  London, 
for  a  time  inserted  the  name  "Charles"  between  his  given 
and  his  family  name,  probably  in  order  to  curry  favor  with 
his  friends  and  patrons. 

Stuart,  leaving  London  in  the  fall  of  1787,  resided  in 
Dublin,  Ireland,  for  the  next  five  years.  Returning  to  his 
native  land  either  in  the  fall  of  1792  or  early  in  the  year 
of  1 793,  he  remained  here  until  his  death  in  Boston  in  1828. 

The  earliest  use  of  the  name  "Charles" — and  then  only 
of  the  initials  "G.  C." — which  the  writer  has  found,  is 
Stuart's  letter  to  Benjamin  West,  probably  written  some- 
time in  December  of  1776,  and  the  latest  appears  in  the 
letter  of  Sir  John  Dick  dated  December  14,  1783.  No  use 
of  the  name  of  "Charles"  in  Ireland  or  in  this  country  has 
been  found.  He  was  christened  "Gilbert,"  he  used  that 
name  for  sixty  years  of  his  life,  the  record  of  his  burial, 
and  the  tablet  which  marks  his  grave  so  name  him  and  his 
name  was  Gilbert  Stuart. 

Those  in  the  Post  Office  Department  responsible  for  the 
name  on  the  stamp  might  be  excused  for  making  this  error 
had  not  the  matter  been  called  to  their  attention.  Seeing 
in  the  New  York  Herald  Tribune ^  July  19,  1939,  the 
announcement  of  the  proposed  issue  of  stamps,  and  that 
one  was  to  be  entitled  "Gilbert  Charles  Stuart,"  the  writer 
addressed  the  Honorable  James  A.  Farley  calling  his  atten- 
tion to  Gilbert  Stuart's  baptismal  record  and  offering  to 
send  him  a  list  of  the  later  biographies  of  Stuart,  none  of 
which  called  him  "Gilbert  Charles."  Under  date  of  July 
28,  1939  an  answer  was  received  from  Mr.  Ramsey  S. 
Black,  3rd  Assistant  Post  Master  General,  stating,  among 
other  things,  that  my  views  would  be  given  "appropriate 
consideration  in  the  further  development  of  this  special 
stamp  series." 

What  were  the  reasons,  if  any,  which  determined  the 
Post  Office  Department  to  choose  a  name  which  was  not 
Stuart's,  are  unknown. 

i(i  ^  ^  ifi 

Another  controversy,  equally  as  irritating  to  scholars 


WHAT  WAS  GILBERT  STUARt's  NAME  43 

and  philatelists,  arose  as  to  the  Post  Office  from  which  the 
covers  bearing  the  first  day  issue  of  the  Stuart  stamp  should 
be  canceled. 

The  writer  admits  that  he  is  not  learned  in  the  lore  of 
philately  but  believe  that  there  is  much  desire  among 
collectors  and  dealers  in  stamps  to  obtain  these  first  day 
covers.  While  there  can  be  no  compelling  rule  other  than 
good  taste  governing  the  Department's  choice,  it  naturally 
would  be  the  office  in  the  town  of  Stuart's  birth. 

Stuart  was  born  in  the  township  of  North  Kingstown, 
Kings — now  Washington — County,  Rhode  Island,  but 
again  some  careless  writers  have  asserted  that  he  was  born 
in  "Narragansett"  without  an  explanation  of  its  meaning 
in  Stuart's  day.  The  present  writer  had  occasion  to  ex- 
amine this  claim,  when  preparing  the  article  on  Stuart  for 
the  Dictionary  of  American  Biography,  Vol.  XVIII  and  his 
conclusion  was  as  follows: 

"The  often  repeated  statement  that  he  (Stuart) 
was  born  in  Narragansett  is  incorrect  without  the  ex- 
planation that  "Narragansett"  at  that  time  was  merely 
a  popular  name  for  "the  Narragansett  Country,"  the 
vague  territory  west  of  Narragansett  Bay  and,  after 
1677,  south  of  East  Greenwich." 

Jane  Stuart  wrote: 

"The  house  in  which  Gilbert  Stuart  was  born  is 
still  standing  in  North  Kingston  [sic],  a  quaint,  gable 
roofed  old  house. "^ 

This  house  still  stands:  it  is  now  and  was  on  December  3, 
1755  when  Stuart  was  born  in  the  township  of  North  Kings- 
town in  the  Narragansett  Country.  The  township  of  Narra- 
gansett was  carved  out  of  the  township  of  South  Kingstown 
in  1901. 

When,  therefore,  the  Post  Office  Department  proposed 
to  cancel  the  covers  of  the  first  day  stamps  from  the  Post 


«"The  Youth  of  Gilbert  Stuart,"  Scribner's  Monthly.  March   1877 
p.  641. 


44  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Office  in  the  town  of  Narragansett,  formerly  Narragansett 
Pier,  many  protests  were  made  even  from  so  high  an  official 
as  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island,  but  to  no 
avail. 

Granted  that  the  whole  matter  is  of  little  importance — 
only  interesting  a  few  dusty  scholars — still  the  total  of  the 
first  day's  sale  of  the  Stuart  stamp  alone  from  the  Narra- 
gansett Post  Office  is  given  at  $4,345.21  indicating  a  sale 
of  434,521. 

While  no  fiat  of  the  Post  Office  Department  can  change 
Stuart's  name  nor  can  the  sale  of  stamps  at  the  Narragan- 
sett Post  Office — a  town  Stuart  never  heard  of  and  which 
did  not  exist  until  one  hundred  forty-six  years  after  his 
birth  and  over  six  miles  away — cause  him  to  be  born  there. 
Still,  from  these  careless  and  rather  stupid  blunders,  many 
will  believe  that  Stuart's  given  name  was  "Gilbert  Charles" 
and  that  he  was  born  in  the  present  town  of  Narragansett, 

Viewing  the  issuance  of  this  stamp  as  a  whole,  we  do  not 
think  it  is  an  episode  of  which  the  Department  can  take 
much  just  pride. 

Narragansett 

William  Davis  Miller 

The  following  note  is  an  attempt  to  clarify  the  use  of  the 
term  Narragansett,  so  confusing  to  many  because  of  its 
seeming  vagaries,  both  during  the  colonial  period  and  the 
present  day. 

When,  in  the  first  half  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the 
English  penetrated  into  the  lands  of  the  Narragansett 
Indians,  it  was  found  that,  while  that  tribe  held  jurisdiction 
over  the  greater  part  of  the  later  Colony  of  Rhode  Island, 
their  main  strength  lay  in  the  southern  portion,  and  there- 
fore this  southern  portion  of  the  colony  quite  naturally 
became  known  as  the  Narragansett  Country  or,  simply, 
Narragansett.  The  earliest  bounds  may  be  said  to  have 
been  Warwick  on  the  north  and  the  Pawcatuck  River  on 


NARRAGANSETT  45 

the  south.  In  1654,  due  to  the  bitter  struggle  for  these 
lands  by  neighboring  colonies,  the  King's  Commissioners 
designated  this  territory  as  the  King's  Province.  However, 
the  older  name  of  the  "Narragansett  Country"  was  still 
maintained  as  is  shown  in  contemporary  acts  of  the  sover- 
eigns of  England  which  designate  the  Colony  as  "The 
Colony  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations,  and 
the  Narragansett  Country  or  King's  Province." 

In  the  Narragansett  Country,  in  the  year  1669,  the 
southern  portion  was  set  off  as  the  township  of  Westerly 
and  five  years  later  the  northern  portion  was  established 
as  the  township  of  Kingstown.  In  1677,  the  township  of 
East  Greenwich  came  into  being  on  the  north  and  by  force 
extended  its  boundaries  southward  into  the  township  of 
North  Kingstown.  Thereafter  the  southern  bound  of  East 
Greenwich  was  considered  the  northern  bound  of  the  Nar- 
ragansett Country. 

In  1722,  the  township  of  Kingstown  was  divided  into 
two  townships — North  and  South  Kingstown  and  subse- 
quently the  other  townships  in  the  King's  Province,  later 
King's  County,  were  taken  from  Westerly,  North  Kings- 
town and  South  Kingstown.  However,  the  whole  territory 
continued  to  be  known  as  the  Narragansett  Country  or 
Narragansett. 

Shortly  after  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  one 
John  Robinson  built  a  pier,  to  facilitate  the  loading  of  ships, 
to  the  southward  of  the  beach  which  lies  southwest  of  the 
mouth  of  Pettaquamscutt  or  Narrow  River.  Thomas  R. 
Hazard  in  his  Recollections  of  Olden  Times  speaks  of  this 
as  the  "old  Narragansett  Pier."  It  was  at  this  spot  that  the 
well  known  summer  resort  sprang  up  many  years  later, 
and  it  was  from  the  pier  built  by  John  Robinson  that  it 
took  its  name.  This  it  retained,  save  for  a  lapse  during  the 
year  of  1867  when  the  Post  Office  Department  christened 
it,  from  March  to  May,  "Atlantic  Pier,"  and  from  May 
to  September,  "Atlantic."  On  January  1,  1925  the  same 
authority  again  asserted  its  prerogative  by  dropping  the 


46  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

word  "Pier"  and  ordered  that  it  be  known,  for  postal  pur- 
poses, simply  as  "Narragansett."  This,  however,  was  not 
the  first  post  office  in  the  Narragansett  Country  to  bear 
that  name.  In  the  year  1848  in  the  little  settlement  at  the 
old  South  Ferry,  on  the  shore  of  the  West  Passage  of 
Narragansett  Bay,  a  post  office  was  established  which  was 
named  "Narragansett,"  which  name  it  bore  until  the  office 
was  discontinued  in  1892. 

This  governmental  decree  added  more  confusion  to  that 
which  already  existed.  In  1901,  the  township  of  Narra- 
gansett had  been  carved  out  of  the  township  of  South 
Kingstown.  Therefore,  to  use  present  day  and  colonial 
terminology,  the  town  of  Narragansett,  was  situated  in  the 
township  of  Narragansett,  in  Narragansett  or  the  Narra- 
gansett Country. 

So  when  it  is  recorded  that  a  person  was  born,  christened, 
lived  and  died  in  Narragansett,  one  must  perforce  examine 
the  date  of  the  incident  referred  to.  For  example ,  Gilbert 
Stuart  was  born  in  Narragansett,  or  the  Narragansett  Coun- 
try. He  was  not  born  in  the  present  town  of  Narragansett, 
he  was  not  born  in  the  present  township  of  Narragansett, 
nor  was  he  christened  nor  did  he  live  or  die  in  these  newly 
created  namesakes. 

Gilbert  Stuart  was  born  at  his  father's  snuff  mill  in  the 
township  of  North  Kingstown  in  Narragansett  (or  the 
Narragansett  Country).  He  was  not  born  in  a  hamlet, 
village  or  town.  His  father's  mill  was  in  the  country-side 
over  four  miles  from  the  village  of  Wickford,  and  two  and 
a  half  miles  from  Saunderstown,  which  did  not  exist  in 
his  day,  and  over  six  miles  from  the  present  town  of  Narra- 
gansett. The  church  in  which  he  was  baptized  was  then 
situated  but  two  and  a  half  miles  to  the  west  of  his  father's 
mill. 

Gilbert  Stuart  was  born  in  1 755  in  the  township  of  North 
Kingstown  in  the  then  Narragansett  or  Narragansett  Coun- 
try, or  King's  County,  in  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Island.  What 
that  locality  is  called  today  is,  historically,  beside  the  point. 


A  COLONIAL  MERCHANT  TO  HIS  SON  47 


A  Colonial  Merchant  to  his  Son 

From  the  unpublished  letters  of  John  Brown 
to  his  Son  James  (1782-83). 

Edited  by  Frank  Hail  Brown* 

A  brief  account  of  the  circumstances  and  the  times  at  the 
close  of  the  War  for  Independence  is  desirable  for  the  better 
understanding  of  this  one-sided  correspondence,  for  unfor- 
tunately none  of  the  son's  letters  survive. 

Negotiations  for  peace  were  progressing  between  the 
United  States  and  Great  Britain,  but  the  war  was  still  being 
waged  on  land  and  sea.  The  British  fleet  was  sweeping  the 
seas  and  blockading  the  ports,  while  in  the  Southlands  a 
more  or  less  desultory  warfare  continued.  French  troops 
were  quartered  on  the  people  of  Providence,  Newport  and 
Boston  j  American  privateers  swarmed  the  Atlantic  even 
into  the  British  channel.  Merchants,  though  risking  the 
loss  of  an  occasional  vessel  through  capture  by  the  enemy, 
held  lively  commerce  with  the  West  Indies,  France,  Hol- 
land and  the  ports  of  countries  favorable  to  the  American 
cause. 

John  Brown,  at  the  age'  of  forty-six,  was  taking  full 
advantage  of  the  situation  and  thereby  acquiring  immense 
gains  from  commerce  and  privateering,  in  spite  of  occa- 
sional heavy  losses.  These  profits  he  put  into  land  as  the 
safest  investment  for  the  times,  buying  substantial  hold- 
ing in  Providence,  Newport,  Bristol,  Warwick,  both  North 
and  South  Kingstown  and  Prudence  Island. 

In  1760  John  Brown^  married  Sarah  Smith,  a  descend- 


*A  condensation  of  a  paper  read  before  the  Society,  February  13,1 940. 

\Tohn  Brown  (1736-1803),  one  of  the  "Four  Brothers"^-Nicholas, 
Joseph,  John  and  Moses — whose  firm,  Nicholas  Brown  &  Co.,  erected 
(1771-72)  the  original  building  at  Rhode  Island  College,  now  University 
Hall,  Brown  University.  John  Brown  was  Treasurer  of  the  College 
(1775-1803). 


48  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

ant  of  John  Smith,  the  Miller.'  There  were  four  children, 
the  only  son,  James,^'  who  was  just  twenty-one;  Abby,'* 
referred  to  as  "Nabbey,"  aged  sixteen  j  Sally,''  aged  ninej 
and  Alice,"  often  called  "Elce,"  aged  five. 

From  John  Brown's  letters  it  is  fair  to  assume  that 
James,  who  had  graduated  from  Harvard  (1780)  and 
had  probably  been  in  his  father's  counting-house  for  about 
a  year,  was  the  constant  recipient  of  advice,  admonition  and 
moral  precept  during  all  of  his  college  life  and  at  home, 
until  like  a  balky  horse  he  set  back  in  the  breeching  and 

-  John  Smith  the  Miller,  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  Providence. 

^  James  Brown  (1761-1834),  "A  member  of  Providence  College  of  the 
standing  of  Sophomore,"  according  to  the  records  of  the  President,  Pro- 
fessors and  Tutors  Book  of  Harvard  College,  was  admitted  as  a  Sophomore 
on  August  29,  1777,  aged  1  5  years  1 1  months.  He  received  his  A.B.  with 
the  class  of  1780  and  his  A.M.  in  course  in  1783.  Among  his  classmates 
were  David  Leonard  Barnes  of  Scituate,  Massachusetts,  later  U.  S.  Dis- 
trict (R.  I.)  Judge  (1801-12),  and  John  Crane,  A.M.  (Hon.)  Brown 
1792;  D.D.  1803,  Congregational  Pastor,  Northbridge,  Mass.  (1783- 
1836). 

James  Brown  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Fellows,  Brown  University 
(1789-1834).  He  received  the  degree  A.M.  (Hon.)  from  Dartmouth 
1791  and  from  Brown  1792. 

He  never  married.  "Enjoying  an  ample  patrimony,  and  having  no  taste 
for  active  pursuits,  he  did  not  enter  a  business  life  or  seek  public  distinction. 
He  was  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  upright  and  pure  minded  in  all 
the  relations  of  private  life."  The  Chad  Browne  Memorial  (Brooklyn, 
1888),  37. 

*  Evidently  in  a  previous  letter  James  had  written  favourably  of  his 
friend  John  Francis,  for  in  his  letter  to  James,  December  29,  1782, 
John  Brown  says:  "If  Mr.  Francis  comes  this  way  he  shall  receive  every 
favourable  notice  from  me.  If  I  can  judge  from  his  parents  and  connec- 
tions he  must  be  a  deserving  young  Gentleman." 

John  Francis  came  to  Providence  and  married  Abby  Brown  (1766- 
1821)  on  January  1,  1788;  their  son  John  Brown  Francis  (1791-1864) 
was  Governor  of  Rhode  Island  (1833-38). 

^  Sarah  Brown  (1773-1846),  married  July  2,  1801  to  Charles  Fred- 
erick Herreshoff,  a  native  of  Minden,  Prussia,  then  living  in  New  York 
City. 

® Alice  Brown  (1777-1823),  married  to  John  Brown  Mason. 


A  COLONIAL  MERCHANT  TO  HIS  SON  49 

refused  to  move  in  spite  of  the  verbal  lashings  of  his  father. 
So  his  father  determined  to  handle  his  son  as  he  would 
a  balky  horse  by  distracting  his  mind,  sent  James  on  a 
"tower,"  in  the  Fall  of  1782,  to  see  new  faces  and  strange 
places. 

But  even  far  from  home  James  seems  to  have  been 
restless  under  his  father's  admonition,  kindly  and  helpful 
though  it  was  intended  to  be. 

The  first  letter  is  addressed  to 

Mr.  James  Brown 
Now  in  Philadelphia 

Providence  October  15,  1782 
Dr  Son 

Yours  from  Prince  Town  [Princeton]  by  Mr  Carl 
Soderstrom  of  Gottenburgh  [Sweden]  was  handed 
me  yesterday  by  that  polite  Gentleman;  he  went 
directly  on  to  Boston — 

Your  mar  &  Sisters  with  me  are  happy  to  Observe 
you  are  well  so  Far  on  your  Journey  [.]  How  much 
more  than  we  do,  ought  we  to  Bless  that  Divine 
Providence  who  has  so  repeatedly  and  Still  Con- 
tinues Showering  on  my  Family  his  Bountifull  Bless- 
ings. .  .  . 

Alltho  I  mentioned  to  you  that  I  would  not  exceed 
400  or  500  Dolrs  for  a  span  of  Horses  yet  never- 
theless if  you  should  see  a  span  that  are  Eligent  as 
well  as  Possessed  with  Every  other  Good  Quality 
and  you  think  are  worth  more,  you  are  at  your  Lib- 
erty to  use  your  own  Prudence  in  the  purchase  .... 

If  you  should  Incline  to  Form  any  Lasting 
Connection  with  a  Young  Lady  Either  at  Phil 
[adelphia]  or  elseware,  or  whenever  this  Inclination 
may  happen,  I  have  to  Begg  Beceash  and  Intreat, 
that  it  be  in  the  best  Family  and  that  she  be  not 
only  Possessed  with  a  Good  Education  but  that  her 


50  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Natturell  Disposition  and  Manners  Joined  with  her 
other  Vertuous  Qualifications  cannot  Fail  to  make 
her  Perfectly  Agreeable  to  your  Parents  Sisters  & 
Friends,  and  in  point  of  Fortin  [fortune]  if  she  Pos- 
sesses or  if  her  Parents  are  Liveing  and  will  settle  on 
her  Twenty  Thousand  Pounds  Philadela  Currency 
I  will  Immediately  Double  the  amount  on  my  Son 
— but  above  all  let  the  Lady  be  of  a  Vertuous 
Carrector  and  an  agreeable  Disposition  a  Calm  and 
Unruffled  Temper  tho  Spritly  and  Agreeable,  Wish- 
ing you  may  find  such  a  Carrector  with  the  Addition 
of  Every  thing  else  which  is  most  agreeable  to 
Yourself,  in  the  Course  of  a  Few  Years,  I  subscribe 
myself  your  Parent 

John  Brown 

^C  ^p  ^*  *I»  *(* 

Sunday 
Providence  November  3,  1782 
Dr  Son 

My  Last  was  by  the  Last  Post  since  which  I  have 
not  received  any  of  yours.  ...  I  then  mentioned  that 
I  was  sorry  you  should  wait  a  moment  for  any  advice 
or  Directions  from  me  Respecting  the  finishing  the 
Charriot  but  that  you  had  Given  such  Directions  as 
you  thought  best  both  in  point  of  its  being  Durable 
Convenient  or  Eligant,  or  to  this  Effect,  I  also  Left 
it  intirely  to  your  Judgement  Respecting  the  pur- 
chase of  a  pr.  Horse  Even  if  the  Price  Exceeded 
what  I  mentioned  when  you  left  me.  .  .  . 

I  have  purchased  the  PassTuxet  Farm  of  670 
Acres  at  20  Dolers  Cash  per  Acre  [.]  The  near 
part  of  the  Farm  7  miles  from  this  Town.  ...  its 
Agreed  by  all  to  be  a  Good  Farm  Natuerally  but 
now  much  out  of  Repair  [,]  it  wants  about  Fifteen 
Thousand  of  Railes  to  make  the  Necessary  Fencing 
on  it  to  be  Improved  to  Advantage. 


A  COLONIAL  MERCHANT  TO  HIS  SON  51 

The  Farm  is  Exceedingly  well  watered  has  a 
Sufficiency  of  wood  for  its  own  Consumtion  it  is 
A  Prittey  Ride  from  Town,  it  has  about  500  Acres 
of  Good  Grain  Land  which  may  be  Inriched  from 
the  Manure  [sea  weed]  which  Annually  Drives  on 
its  Shores  being  at  Least  Three  Miles  Distance 
[long]  on  the  Salt  Water  I  mean  to  [from]  the 
Head  of  the  Cove  Northard  of  Gaspey  or  Namquid 
point  to  the  Head  of  the  Cove  to  the  Westward  or 
within  Greens  Island,  and  is  nearly  one  mile  on 
the  Plesent  and  Delightfull  Rhode  [now  Warwick 
Avenue]  from  this  to  Warwick  [north  line],'  it  may 
cut  30  or  40  tons  Salt  Hay  annually  it  is  remarkable 
for  makeing  the  best  of  fatt  beef.  .  .  . 

After  commenting  on  his  son  James'  "Mallincoley 
Discription  of  my  old  &  Worthy  Friends  Misfortins  in 
the  Crual  Catastofray  of  his  Buildings"  near  Philadelphia, 
John  Brown  asks  why  the  "Supreme  Being"  should  favor 
him  with  "so  many  blessings  over  what  is  granted  to 
All  most  any  other  Individuell  of  this  or  the  Nabouring 
States,  I  have  helth  and  Strength,  my  Children  are  not 
Deformed  nor  Devoid  of  Reason,  I  have  Every  Neces- 
sary of  Life  beside  an  Abundance  to  Leave  to  Each  or  my 
Children,  this  being  the  case  How  Much  Thanks  and 
Adoration  is  Due  from  me  to  that  BountifuU  hand  Who 
has  so  Libberally  Bestowed  all  those  Blessings.  ..." 

stf  sts  sts  ^tc  lie 

Providence  November  11th  1782 
Dr  Son 

Our  House,  wharf,  stable  and  Lott  is  Jock  full  of 


^  John  Brown's  account  tallies  closely  with  the  painstaking  description 
of  the  "Spring  Green  Farm"  prepared  (19+0)  by  Harrison  S.  Taft,  who 
has  been  making  an  extensive  study  of  Proprietor's  ownership  of  lands 
within  the  confines  of  the  January  (1642-43)  Warwick  purchase  and  of 
subsequent  ownership  history  of  some  of  the  outstanding  colonial  farms 
therein. 


52  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

French  men,  Horses,  Waggins  &c  &c.  Every  Gentle- 
man in  town  takes  the  same  officers  as  they  did  on 
their  march  westward  last  summer.^  They  first  told 
us  it  would  be  only  3  or  4  days  but  the  lutenant  of 
the  armey  has  been  at  our  house  already  6  or  7  days 
and  I  see  no  sighne  of  his  Departure,  Gen.  Rocham- 
beau  at  Gov.  Bowens  came  the  Day  before  yesterday 
&  Dromeny  at  Brother  Jos.  B's  yesterday.  .  .  . 

I  hear  Genl.  Rochambeau  gives  a  Ball  tomorrow 
or  next  Day  Nite,  this  Nabbey'^  will  miss  off.  It 
appears  to  me  from  your  letter  and  from  the  fue 
words  I  had  with  Mr.  Maning"  on  the  Subject  you 
are  not  Determined  on  the  Time  of  Return,  you  say  it 
Depends  on  what  you  hear  from  Home,  I  am  Cau- 
tious Even  in  advising  I  mean  not  to  Direct,  but  this 
much  I  will  say,  if  it  is  not  more  agreeable  to  you  to 
spend  the  winter  at  Philade  than  at  Home,  it  will 
be  much  more  agreeable  to  Your  Parents  &  Sisters 
that  you  come  home  before  the  winter  setts  in. 

For  my  own  part  I  wish  you  to  do  that  which  will 
be  most  for  your  Good  [,]  an  Acquaintance  with 
mankind  &  with  more  parts  of  the  World  than 
One  [,]  is  necessary  to  inable  a  man  to  Cut  a  Figuer 
in  Life,  and  every  man  is  born  for  some  purpose  or 
other,  I  have  an  anxious  Desire  that  you  should 
be  a  usefull  member  of  Society  in  some  sphere  or 
other  [,]  as  you  do  not  incline  to  that  of  a  Merchant 
so  much  as  to  spend  your  time  in  that  Branch,  the 
Law  nor  Phisich  Does  not  Ingroose  your  attention. 


8 


Rochambeau  marched  west  across  Connecticut  to  White  Plains,  N.  Y., 
where  he  made  a  junction  with  Washington,  July  6,  1781.  This  move- 
ment was  the  beginning  of  the  campaign  which  led  to  the  surrender  of 
Yorktown,  October  17,  1781.  Morison  and  Commager,  The  Growth  of 
the  American  Refublic  (New  York,  1937),  I,  107. 

^  James'  sister  Abby. 

^^  Presumably  James  Manning  (1783-91),  a  founder  and  First  Presi- 
dent (1764-91)  of  Rhode  Island  College  (Brown  University)  and  an 
intimate  of  John  Brown. 


A  COLONIAL  MERCHANT  TO  HIS  SON  io 

The  Statesman  therefore  is  what  I  wish  you  to  be  and 
the  sooner  you  begin  your  attention  to  it  the  better 
you'l  please  me  and  all  your  relations.  You  have  an 
Education  and  may  probably  have  a  considerable 
Fortin  if  Heaven  doeth  not  lift  her  Rod  against  us. 
Why  should  you  not  give  a  part  of  your  time  to  the 
Publick,  its  a  Duty  the  man  of  welth  and  abillitys 
owes  his  Fellow  men  [.]  I  wish  you  to  take  a  seat 
in  our  Genl.  Assembly  in  my  Place  Next  Spring, 
provided  you  do  not  cross  the  Atlantic.  You  must 
not  suffer  yourself  to  be  Hortey,  high  minded  nor  so 
proud  as  to  look  Down  on  those  of  a  Smaller  kind  of 
Mortalls  but  to  learn  so  much  of  the  Courtyer  as 
to  please  the  poore  as  well  as  the  Rich,  Mr.  Howall 
is  a  good  Exampler,  so  is  Doctr.  Arnold^^  they  are 
both  Sencible  and  prudent,  tho  they  Dont  Show  off 
in  that  Eligent  Dress  &  Lite  behavior  as  some  of  that 
August  Boddy  Congress,  they  are  substantial  Mem- 
bers of  the  Community  [,]  you  may  gain  Knolage 
as  Necessarv  of  them,  as  vou  Can  of  those  who  make 
a  Very  Different  Appearance.  Dont  Mistake  me  I 
Dont  mean  by  this  that  an  Acquaintance  with  Men 
of  a  Different  Dress  &  Address  is  unnecessary,  No[,] 
Far  from  it,  I  wish  you  to  be  Acquainted  with  Every 
kind  of  Vertuous  Men,  as  well  the  men  of  fashon  as 


"  David  Howell  (1747-1824),  A.B.  College  of  New  Jersey  (Prince- 
ton) 1766.  His  fellow  student  James  Manning  invited  him  to  Rhode 
Island  College,  where  he  taught  natural  philosophy  and  mathematics, 
French,  German  and  Hebrew.  As  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress 
(1782-85)  he  was  a  leader  in  Rhode  Island's  fight  against  the  59c  Impost 
levied  by  Congress. 

Jonathan  Arnold  (1741-1793)  is  said  to  be  the  author  of  the  statute 
repealing  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  England  (May  4,  1776).  When  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Continental  Congress  (1782-84),  he  persistently  objected  to 
laying  of  an  impost. 

John  Brown's  expressed  admiration  for  these  men  is  an  indication  of 
the  character  of  their  support.  Brown  was  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  which  rejected  the  Impost.  Ms.  Letter,  John  Brown, 
November  3,  1782,  to  James  Brown  in  possession  of  Frank  Hail  Brown. 


54  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

the  man  of  figueres  or  of  Business,  both  Publick  & 
Privit  and  that  you  abstain  from  the  bad  habbits  & 
Customs  &  Cleave  to  that  which  appears  to  you,  after 
gaining  more  experience,  to  be  the  most  Beneficial  to 
your  Friends  &  the  Community  at  large. 

I  ad  no  more  at  present  only  that  I  am  Your 

Affectionate  Parent 

John  Brown 

P.  S.  I  have  not  time  to  Read  what  I  have  wrote, 
your  Descriptions  are  pleasing.  Continue  them,  Even 
more  Lengthy,  if  convenient,  what  number  of 
Houses  &  Soules  is  the  present  Estimate  of  Philade, 
how  many  Vessills  are  built  there  [,]  how  large  [>] 
what  price  per  ton  Does  a  Good  Ship  Cost.  I  mean 
the  Hulls  including  Iron  Work  or  not,  but  exclusive 
[of  rigging]  &  sails. 

ijj  ^  ^  ^  ^ 

Providence  December  24  1782 
Dr  Son 

Yours  of  the  3d  6th  and  7th  inst  are  all  to  hand 
by  which  we  are  Exceedingly  happey  to  Obsearve 
your  helth  and  Pleasures  that  is  I  mean  that  you 
are  in  Generall  pleased  with  your  tower. 

I  feel  Anxious  Least  what  I  wrote  you  on  your 
Asking  me  about  buying  a  Fayiton  which  you  had 
not  Reed,  When  you  wrote  the  letter  now  before 
me — Should  Cause  Some  uneasy  Sencations  in  Your 
Mind  which  I  shall  be  very  Sorry  for,  but  tho  I  did 
not  advise  your  buying  the  Fayiton,  as  I  thought  we 
had  Cariges  anough  to  pay  the  new  Taxes  on  viz  5£ 
Money  per  year  on  the  Coach  £5  per  year  on  the 
Charriott  &  £3  12s  on  the  Fayiton  &  I  think  4s  on 
the  Shayes  Allredy  Established  in  the  Massachusetts 
and  is  about  being  Done  here  or  Sumthing  Simmuler 
over  and  above  the  old  mode  of  their  being  Taxed 
for  their  Respective  Value,  but  as  you  have  got  It,  I 


A  COLONIAL  MERCHANT  TO  HIS  SON  55 

wish  you  not  to  make  Yourself  uneesy,  but  //  the  Tax 
on  the  Cariges  takes  place,  I  could  wish  to  Git  Rid  of 
all  our  Cariges  but  the  Shay  &  Fayiton,  or  Charriot, 
but  in  this  case  who  will  buy  [?]  I  ad  no  more  on 
this  Subject.  .  .  . 

On  the  whole  Not  withstanding  all  the  Letters 
that  has  passed  I  leave  it  wholley  to  you  weither  to 
Come  Home  this  Winter  or  to  Stay  till  Spring,  Your 
Friends  this  way  will  all  be  glad  to  see  you  but  if  its 
more  Agreeable  to  your  Inclinations  to  Remain  at 
Philad  I  hope  youl  Learn  Two  Things  viz  The 
French  Languige  and  to  Dance 

The  Post  going  Cant  Ad  only  that  I  am 

Your  Parent 

John  Brown 

P.  S.  pray  allways  &  at  all  times  have  it  in  your 
mind  that  you  are  my  only  Son  &  Consequently  that 
Everything  you  may  do  in  Respect  to  your  Good  or 

bad  Carnctor  Effects  me  Very  Deep.  .  .  . 

^f  ^1^  x^  ^i^  ^^ 

*^  ^^  ^n  >^  ^^ 

Providence  Feby  18th  1783 
Dr  Son  .... 

Your  Marr  &  Sister  from  what  they  have  heard, 
are  Considerable  uneasy  for  Fear  you  have  Fixed 
your  Affections  on  a  Lady  Considerably  older  than 
yourself,  as  for  my  Own  part  I  cannot  suppose  you  so 
Imprudent,  only  Consider  the  Case  of  Your  Uncle 
BilP"  [ — ]  a  Lady  4  or  5  Years  older  than  Yourself 
will  probably  be  Wurn  out  &  Bowed  Down  &  as 
Round  Backt  as  a  Monkey  by  the  time  you  are  Mid- 
dle Aged  and  perhaps  in  the  prime  of  Life,  Depend 


■'-William  Smith,  b.  1726,  older  brother  of  Sarah  (Smith)  Brown, 
married  Abigail  (Dexter)  Smith,  b.  1715,  widow  of  his  cousin  William 
Smith.  Thus  it  would  appear  that  "Uncle  Bill's"  wife  was  eleven  years 
older  than  he. 


56  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

upon  it  I  will  never  give  my  Consent  for  you  to 
Marry  any  Lady  in  the  Universe  that  is  Older  than 
Yourself,  but  any  years  Under,  from  One  to  Ten 
years,  I  shall  not  be  Difficult  [.]  The  Miss  V  may 
be  an  excessive  Agreeable  and  Completly  Accom- 
plished Lady — her  being  Severil  Years  over  your 
age,  is  a  sufficient  Objection  with  me — I  Flatter  my 
self  their  are  but  fue  Ladys  within  the  United  States 
but  that  your  personal  Family  Fortin  [fortune]  Edu- 
cation and  polite  Address  will  Gain  You  Admittance 
to  their  perticuler  Acquaintance,  which  will  Conse- 
quently give  you  a  much  Graiter  Opportunity  of 
Choice  than  you  can  have  had  during  your  Short 
Stay  at  Philadelphia.  .  .  . 

Your  Sister  Salley  in  her  Last  Desires  in  a  partic- 
uler  Manner  to  be  Remembered  to  you  in  my  Next, 
Perfect  Helth  is  yet  most  Gratiously  Bestowed  on  our 
Whole  Famely,  all  your  Sisters  Longs  to  Imbrace 
You 

I  am  Your  Affectionate  Parent 

John  Brown 

*^M  ^^  ^^  ^^ 

>^  ^^  ^^  ^^ 

Evidently  James  was  still  touchy  about  accepting  in- 
structions from  his  father  who  writes  after  receiving  his 
son's  letter  of  February  21  from  Baltimore:  "[I]  am  very 
sorry  that  anything  I  may  have  mentioned  in  aney  of  my 
letters  should  have  given  you  aney  uneasy  senceations.  I  do 
wish  you  to  appear  as  a  Gentleman  possessed  of  Vertue 
Honour  and  Honestty  but  it  Doeth  not  follow  from 
thence  that  when  you  go  from  home  for  a  Tower  of  3  mo. 
you  should  continue  6  or  7  mo.  As  to  the  Fayiton  as  you 
bot  it  [,]  I  do  not  wish  to  make  you  appear  unstable  or 
wimsicull  as  sum  might  constru  your  conduct  if  you  sold 
it.  Therefore  if  you  can  bring  both  that  &  the  Chariot 
home  with  the  four  horses  you'l  do  it.   .   .   .  " 


* 


A  COLONIAL  MERCHANT  TO  HIS  SON  57 

Providence  March  31,  1783 
Dr  Son 

After  Congrattulateing  you  on  the  Happy  Event 
of  a  Genl  Peace,  I  am  to  aknowledge  the  Receipt  of 
your  Two  Letters  of  the  12th  and  13th  insta.  .  .  . 
You  will  now  have  an  opportunity  to  see  New  York 
on  your  return. 

Your  Marr  Sister  Nabbey  and  Alice  with  Polley 
Stillman  is  at  Poppersquash,  I  wish  I  could  think  of 
a  Better  name  which  might  be  applicable  to  the 
Place,  I  have  thought  of  one  for  the  PassTuxet  Farm 
on  which  we  enter  possession  tomorrow  and  call  it 
Spying  Green.  Its  applicable  in  every  sense  [:]  first 
its  been  in  the  name  of  the  Green  Family  100  years 
and  secondly  its  very  Springy  and  Consequently  early 
in  the  Spring  is  Green,  and  thirdly  in  the  Spring  we 
Entered  on  the  Green  Farm.   .   .   . 

Adieu 

Book  Review 

The  Irrepressible  Democrat:  Roger  Williams 
By  Samuel  Hugh  Brockunier 

(New  York;  The  Ronald  Press  Company,  1940.  Pp.  XII,  30  5.  $+.00) 

The  Irrepressible  Detuocrat,  Roger  Williams,  by  Samuel  Hugh  Brock- 
unier, is  a  well-organized  book  in  which  the  activities  of  the  founder 
of  Rhode  Island  are  set  forth  by  a  writer  who  mastered  his  material  and 
its  implications  before  beginning  the  task  of  composition.  Thanks  to  that 
fact  we  have  a  biography  in  which  the  core  of  the  matter  is  placed  before 
us  in  a  straightforward,  orderly,  uncluttered  narrative,  an  admirable 
synthesis  of  a  body  of  material  available  for  generations  and  studied  by 
many  persons  from  many  points  of  view. 

Mr.  Brockunier's  emphasis  has  been  upon  the  deeds  of  Roger  Williams 
rather  than  upon  his  words,  upon  Williams  the  practical  administrator 
struggling  to  keep  alive  that  "humble  experiment  in  a  more  generous 
fellowship"  which  represented  his  "distillation  of  the  best  in  the  great 
English  revolutionary  movement."  Instead  of  transferring  to  his  pages 
long  and  cumbersome  quotations  from  The  Bloudy  Tenent  and  other 
works,  the  author  has  assimilated  the  social  and  political  theories  pro- 


58  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

pounded  in  Williams's  writings  and  shown  them  to  us  in  practical  opera- 
tion. He  has  avoided  an  extended  analysis  of  religious  ideas,  but  has 
made  it  clear  that  the  political  ideal  which  Williams  sought  to  bring  into 
being  had  its  origin  and  its  strength  in  that  respect  for  the  dignity  of  the 
human  personality  from  which  arose  also  his  doctrine  of  liberty  of 
conscience. 

There  emerges  from  Mr.  Brockunier's  study  the  picture  of  the  Provi- 
dence Plantations  as  the  most  fortuitous  of  the  American  colonies,  a 
community  experiencing  both  the  advantages  and  disadvantages  of  a 
hastily  chosen  refuge  established  with  the  minimum  of  previous  planning 
as  to  land  tenure,  or  legislative  and  judicial  functions.  It  had  no  charter, 
no  constitution,  no  legal  standing,  and  because  it  must  build  a  state  from 
the  ground  up,  its  early  history  is  of  extraordinary  interest.  The  hero 
of  that  drama,  Mr.  Brockunier  makes  clear  once  more,  was  Roger  Wil- 
liams the  man  of  tolerance,  not  Samuel  Gorton  the  leveller,  or  William 
Harris,  the  representative  of  a  policy  of  enlightened  self-interest.  The 
problems  that  shook  and  almost  disrupted  that  infant  state  become  com- 
prehensible to  Mr.  Brockunier's  readers  because  the  author  himself  has 
so  well  understood  them. 

Mr.  Brockunier  has  been  drawn  to  the  study  of  Williams  by  his  admira- 
tion of  him  as  the  democrat  in  action.  He  feels,  as  most  of  us  do,  that  his 
insistence  upon  an  equitable  distribution  of  the  free  lands,  his  simplifica- 
tion of  governmental  processes,  and  his  erection  of  religious  toleration 
to  the  dignity  of  a  principle  of  government  were  noble  contributions  to 
practical  American  politics,  and  he  applauds,  as  all  of  us  must,  the  absence 
of  all  thought  of  self-aggrandizement  in  his  plans  and  actions.  He  sees 
Williams  as  one  who  "conceived  of  a  reconciliation  of  property  and  democ- 
racy through  a  wide  distribution  of  wealth  and  continuous  adjustment  of 
political  functions  to  the  great  end  of  'the  commonweale'."  There  are 
many  minor  points  within  this  generalized  statement  upon  which  one 
conceivably  may  differ  from  Mr.  Brockunier,  but  there  can  be  no  quarrel 
with  his  interpretation  of  the  purpose  and  achievement  of  Williams  as 
summarized  in  his  admirable  concluding  chapter. 

Though  I  am  in  agreement  with  Mr.  Brockunier's  evaluation  of  Wil- 
liams's achievement  and  his  interpretation  of  his  actions,  I  find  myself, 
in  reading,  continuously  at  odds  with  him  as  to  their  motivation.  Although 
he  never  says  directly  that  Williams  was  moved  to  his  equalitarian  policies 
by  resentment  against  the  upper  ranks  of  society,  the  string  of  class  feeling 
is  so  persistently  plucked  throughout  the  book  that  one  is  justified  in  the 
belief  that  such  an  inference  is  intended.  He  tells  us  that  there  was  a  great 
deal  of  snobbishness  at  Cambridge  when  Williams  was  there  as  a  student 
and  that  no  doubt  his  "spirit  rankled  inwardly  when  he  found  himself 
patronized  or  openly  snubbed."  No  doubt  it  did.  It  is  the  common  lot  of 
all  men — rich  and  poor,  emperor  and  horse-holder — to  encounter  inso- 


THE  IRREPRESSIBLE  DEMOCRAT  59 

lence  here  and  there  as  thev  go  through  life.  Actually  Williams's  position 
at  Cambridge  was  good.  His  mother  was  of  the  lesser  gentry  by  birth  and 
upbringing,  his  father  was  a  member  of  a  London  merchant  guild,  his 
patron  was  the  foremost  lawyer  of  the  times,  and  his  rank  on  the  college 
rolls  was  that  of  pensioner.  There  is  absolutely  no  reason  to  suppose  that 
at  college  or  elsewhere  he  was  snubbed  oftener  or  more  cruelly  than  is 
the  common  lot.  When  he  left  Cambridge  as  a  young  minister  in  the 
Church  of  England,  he  went  into  the  house  of  Sir  William  Masham,  where 
he  came  in  touch  with  many  members  of  the  great  Puritan  families  and 
won  their  approval  and  friendship.  In  later  years  it  was  his  friendship 
with  Cromwell,  Sir  Henry  Vane,  and  others  of  high  Parliamentary  posi- 
tion which  made  him  an  effective  agent  for  Rhode  Island  when  charters 
were  to  be  obtained  and  enemies  to  be  refuted.  It  is  true  that  Lady  Joan 
Barrington,  mother  of  Lady  Masham,  denied  him  the  hand  in  marriage 
of  her  niece  and  ward,  but  that  may  well  have  been  because  of  his 
financial  insecurity  and  his  eccentric  refusal  to  settle  down  to  a  good 
living  rather  than  because  of  dissatisfaction  with  his  birth  and  position. 
That  disagreement  was  soon  made  up,  and  years  later  Williams  inscribed 
a  copy  of  his  Key  to  Lady  Judith  Barrington,  daughter-in-law  of  Lady 
Joan,  in  words  of  respect  and  affection.  Mr.  Brockunier  suggests  that  this 
contretemps  with  regard  to  the  proposal,  which,  by  the  way,  had  been 
made  with  the  consent  and  approval  of  Sir  William  and  Lady  Masham, 
may  have  had  influence  in  turning  Williams  towards  democratic  courses, 
but  I  believe  he  has  failed  in  this  instance  to  study  the  order  of  events 
in  the  young  man's  life.  It  is  perfectly  obvious  that  when,  a  few  weeks 
later,  he  told  Cotton  and  Hooker  that,  on  scriptural  grounds,  he  could 
no  longer  join  with  them  in  the  use  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  he 
was  announcing  a  conclusion  reached  through  many  months,  years  even, 
of  reflection  upon  the  ecclesiastical  system  of  which  he  was  a  part.  That 
decision  was  his  first  and  most  important  step  upon  the  path  he  thence- 
forth followed. 

Williams,  it  seems  to  me,  was  the  champion  of  mankind  rather  than 
of  the  common  man.  I  like  to  think  that  this  championship  came  into 
being  from  a  warm  benevolence  of  nature  rather  than  from  resentment 
against  the  class  which  protected  him  in  his  youth  and  with  which  he 
voluntarily  associated  himself  on  his  visits  to  England  and  in  his  eager 
correspondence  in  this  country  with  the  Winthrops.  I  like  my  heroes  to 
be  of  heroic  mould;  I  want  my  liberals  to  be  moved  to  action  by  the  large 
qualities  of  love  and  reason  rather  than  by  prejudice  and  resentment.  I 
believe  that  Roger  Williams  was  one  of  those  so  moved,  and  that  to  suggest 
spleen  and  injured  vanity  as  the  source  of  his  passion  for  the  creation  of  a 
better  world  is  to  belittle  him  without  warrant. 

Lawrence  C.  Wroth 
John  Carter  Brown  Library 


60  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Thomas  Tefft,  Progressive  Rhode  Islander 

Barbara  Wriston 

As  the  eighteenth  century  saw  the  coalition  of  the  Amer- 
ican colonies  into  one  country  so  the  nineteenth  saw  the 
new  country  reaching  out  for  power,  trade  expansion,  and 
new  cultural  relations, 

Thomas  Alexander  Tefft  lived  during  the  nineteenth 
century  and  represented  these  changes.  He  was  born  in 
Richmond,  Rhode  Island  in  1826.  Henry  Barnard,  Com- 
missioner of  Education  for  Rhode  Island  persuaded  him 
to  come  to  Providence  and  enter  Brown,  with  the  class  of 
1851.  In  college  Tefft  was  described  as  "slender  .  .  .  and 
of  medium  height,"  with  an  oval  face,  fair  complexion 
and  light  brown  hair.  "His  manner  was  marked  by  a 
certain  degree  of  independence,  and  his  .  .  .  bearing  was 
of  one  who  had  made  up  his  mind  to  succeed  in  whatever 
he  undertook." 

Employed  by  the  Providence  architectural  and  con- 
struction firm  of  Tallman  and  Bucklin,^  during  his  college 
career,  he  was  encouraged  to  submit  his  own  designs.  The 
variety  of  Tefft's  styles,  illustrates  how  the  artists  were 
reaching  out  to  many  cultures  for  inspiration. 

Besides  being  a  well  known  architect,  he  was  also  one 
of  the  most  enthusiastic  proponents  of  universal  currency. 

^  William  Tallman,  a  builder  and  dealer  in  lumber  founded  a  partner- 
ship in  1822  with  James  C.  Bucklin,  a  leading  exponent  of  the  Greek 
revival  in  Rhode  Island.  Bucklin  designed  the  Westminster  side  of  the 
Arcade  (1828),  Manning  Hall,  Brown  University  (1833),  and  the 
Cabinet  of  the  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society  (1  844). 

After  Tefft  had  opened  an  office  for  himself,  Tallman  and  Bucklin 
continued  to  construct  the  buildings  he  designed. 

-  Among  the  buildings  Tefft  designed  were  the  Union  Passenger  Depot 
(1848,  no  longer  standing),  the  Central  Congregational  Church  (1852, 
now  Memorial  Hall),  and  the  old  Central  Baptist  Church  (1857,  demol- 
ished). For  details  on  Tefft's  architecture  see  Henry  Russell  Hitchcock, 
Rhode  Island  Architecture,  and  also  Volume  28,  No.  2  of  the  Bulletin 
of  the  Museum  of  Art,  Rhode  Island  School  of  Design,  The  Architecture 
of  Thoynas  Tefft,  by  Barbara  Wriston. 


THOMAS  TEFFT,  PROGRESSIVE  RHODE  ISLANDER  61 

On  a  trip  to  Europe,  Tefft  made  outstanding  contributions. 
His  paper  read  before  a  group  of  interested  men  in  Liver- 
pool, gained  him  a  hearing  from  the  leading  British  econ- 
omists and  opened  the  columns  of  the  English  press  to  his 
articles.  This  paper  entitled  Universal  Currency  on  the 
Decimal  Sy stein,  (1858),  was  translated  into  several  for- 
eign languages  and  attracted  wide  attention.  Had  he  lived 
his  influence  might  have  been  more  effective,  but  today 
only  his  careful  notebooks,  preserved  in  the  Rhode  Island 
Historical  Society,  remain  as  testimony  of  his  interest. 

Industrial  art  education  had  a  share  in  his  trip  to  Europe 
for  Barnard  made  him  Commissioner  of  Industrial  Art 
Education  from  Rhode  Island  to  Europe  in  1856.  In  his 
last  letter,  written  from  Geneva,  he  said: 

"I  well  know  that  mv  future  is  to  be  one  of  labor.  I  mean  that 
our  country  shall  enjoy  facilities  in  art  education  which  no 
country  possesses,  and  before  this  can  be  accomplished  much 
must  be  done." 

Tefft's  death  in  Florence  in  1859,  prevented  completion 
of  his  elaborate  report;  hence  the  program  was  dropped 
in  Rhode  Island,  allowing  Massachusetts  to  lead  the  way 
in  that  field. 

Thomas  Tefft  was  typical  of  his  times  —  deeply  in- 
fluenced by  Europe,  but  confident  in  the  future  of  Amer- 
ica; feeling  that  it  should  find  its  own  forms  of  expression. 
To  use  his  own  words: 

"In  building  our  houses  ...  let  us  think  for  ourselves  .  .  . 
In  Switzerland  and  Germany  the  cottage  or  farm  building 
.  .  .  appear  as  if  it  was  worked  out  to  suit  its  particular  place, 
therefore  each  is  different  and  full  of  interest." 

He  wanted  to  make  the  United  States  a  decisive  influence 
in  art  and  economics.  This  feeling  is  well  expressed  by 
what  Professor  George  W.  Greene  said  of  him:  "Progress 
was  an  essential  element  of  his  intellectual  nature  .  .  . 
eager  for  improvement,  and  still  confident  that  it  was 
within  his  reach."  It  was  his  belief  that  we  could  learn  from 
the  past  but  that  we  should  adapt  the  old  to  the  new, 
rather  than  build  slavish  imitations  of  historical  build- 
ings without  meaning  for  nineteenth  century  society. 


62  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Rhode  Island  Historical  Society 
Treasurer's  Report 

INCOME  ACCOUNT  FOR  THE  YEAR   1940 


Balance  December  31,  1939 $713.77 

Receipts 

Annual  Dues  2,384.88* 

Dividends  and  Interest  3,111.57 

Rental  of  Rooms  100.00 

State  Appropriation 1 ,625.00 

$7,935.22 
Expenditures 

Binding    $30.08 

Books   181.57 

Electric  Light  and  Gas 79.5  3 

Lectures   126.97 

Expense   1 16.64 

Grounds  and  Building 43.97 

Heating   700.00 

Newspaper 1.51 

Publications 476.23 

Salaries  4,890.00 

Supplies    3  36.07 

Telephone    68.46 

Water  8.00 

$7,059.03 

Balance  December  31,1 940 876. 1 9 

$7,935.22 

*79  Members  paid  dues  in  1940  for  1941,  $395.00 


treasurer's  report  63 

STATEMENT  OF  CONDITION,  DECEMBER  31,   1940 

Assets 
Grounds  and  Building $25,000.00 

Bonds 

$3,000.  Commonwealth  Edison  3>^s,  1968 $3,274.46 

3,000.  Consol.  Gas  Co.  of  N.  Y.  3>^s,  1946  3,131.25 

3,000.   Continental  Oil  of  Del.  2^s,  1948 3,263.21 

4,000.  Dominionof  Gov.  of  Canada,  5s,  1952  4,003.91 

1,000.   Duquesne'Lt.Co.,lstMtge.,3>4s,1965  1,069.76 

2,000.  Narra.  Elec.Co.,  1st  Mtge.,3>^s,  1966  2,250.36 

500.  N.  Y.  Cen.  Railroad  Co.,  334s,    1952  509.39 

2,000.  N.Y.St'mCorp.lst  Mtge.,  3i^s,  1963  2,209.19 

3,000.   Pacific  Gas  and  Electric   3^s,    1961  3,338.21 

1,000.  PennsylvaniaRailroadDeb.  4^s,  1970  922.50 

500.   Pennsylvania  R.  R.  Co.  314s,  1952 500.00 

2,000.   Phillips  Petroleum  3s,  1948 2,200.49 

1,000.  PotomacEdisonCc,  4>^s,  1961 1,092.82 

Stocks 

10  shs.  Allied  Chemical  &  Dye  Corp 1,732.1  5 

70  shs.  American  Tel.  &  Tel  Co. 6,591.72 

12  shs.  Appalachian  Elec.  Power  Co.,  4>4s,Pfd.    1,274.85 

40  shs.  Bankers  Trust  Co.,  of  N.  Y 2,615.00 

45  shs.  Blackstone  Canal  National  Bank 1,050.00 

10  shs.  E'Dupont  de  Nemours  and  Co.,  Com.    1,489.25 

40  shs.  Consolidated  Edison  Pfd 4,172.80 

2  shs.  Guaranty  Trust  Co.  of  N.  Y 706.00 

30  shs.  International  Nickel  Co.  of  Canada 1,064.48 

350  shs.  Providence  Gas  Co 5,755.68 

1  5  shs.  Providence  National  Bank  1,508.22 

2  5  shs.  Narragansett  Electric  Co.,  4^s,  Pfd.    1,381.25 

3  5  shs.  Public  Service  Co.,  of  N.  J.,  5%  Pfd.   3,327.62 
1 0  shs.  Public  Ser.  Co.  of  N.  J.,  5  %  cum.  Pfd.       990.00 

25  shs.  Standard  Oil  Co.  of  N.  J. 1,196.04 

25  shs.  Texas  Corp 1,096.98 

12  shs.  U.  S.  Steel  Corp.  Pfd 1,547.82 

1  0  shs.  Westinghouse  Electric  1,137.08 

Savings  x^ccount,  R.  I.  Hospital  Trust  Co 1,491.38 

67,883.88 

Cash  on  hand  1,988.75 

$94,872.63 
Petty  Cash 25.00 

$94,897.63 


64  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Liabilities 

Equipment  Fund $25,000.00 

Permanent  Endowment  Funds 56,858.52 

Publication  Funds  6,600.00 

Life  Memberships 5 ,600.00 

Book  Fund  3,0 1 2.41 

Reserve  Fund 860.1  1 

Revolving  Publication  Fund .'....'......  277.45 

Balance  December  31,1 940 876.19 

$99,084.68 
Gain  Loss  and  Premium  Fund 4,187.05  O.D. 

$94,897.63 

January,  1941  Robert  T.  Downs,  Treasurer. 

The  accounts  of  the  Society  were  audited  by  Harris  &  Gifford  under 
the  direction  of  the  Audit  Committee,  John  H.  Wells,  Chairman. 


c^oA^isss^ 


O^HE  function  of  a  local  historical  society 
\D  is  to  collect,  preserve  and  make  available 
for  public  use  books,  manuscripts,  newspapers 
and  current  notices,  revealing  every  phase  of 
the  past  and  present  life  of  all  the  people  in  the 
community  which  it  serves. 

This  is  particularly  vital  in  periods  of  eco- 
nomic and  social  change  like  the  present. 

In  Rhode  Island,  a  rounded  collection  com- 
prises complete  files  of  local  newspapers, 
publications  of  all  native  authors,  books, 
referring  to  the  region  and  its  people,  his- 
tories, statistical  records,  critiques,  the  biog- 
raphies of  residents  and  genealogies  of 
families. 

Clarence  S.  Brigliam,  Director 
American  Antiquarian  Society. 


^■iiiT<ii-in"trr*f  • 


i-^.'Steijfc<«t*4,'.«»C'.'  .-^  '.-.Ki-i  - 


OLD   CENTRAL   BAP  IIST  CHURCH,   PROVIDENCE 
DESIGNED   15V    THOMAS  TEFFT,   BUH/r  IN    1857. 

Courtesy  of  Muscinn  of  Art,  Proz'idcin 


NEW  MEiMBERS  SINCE  JANUARY  4,   1941 


Mr.  Edward  B.  Aldrich 
Mr.  William  Slater  Allen 
Mr.  Edwin  H.  Arnold 
Mrs.  Donald  S.  Babcock 
Mrs.  Harvey  A.  Baker 
Mr.  Lattimer  W.  Ballou 
Mrs.  A.  B.  Bradshaw 
Mr.  Benjamin  Bricrr 
Hon.  Fred  C.  Broomhead 
Mr.  Robert  P.  Brown,  Jr. 
Mrs.  Robeft  P.  Brown,  Sr. 
Mr.  Sevellon  Brown 
Mr.  Harry  H.  Burton 
Mr.  Byron  C.  Bussey 
Mrs.  Albert  L.  Calder,  II 
Mr.  Wallace  Campbell 
Miss  Dorothy  Casey 
Col.  Everitte  St.  J.'Chaffee 
Mr.  William  S.  Cherry 
Mr.  William  S.  Cherry,  Jr. 
Mr.  Ernest  Clayton 
Mr.  John  E.  Congdon 
Mr.  Edward  Connor 
Mr.  C.  C.  Darling 
Mr.  Edward  R.  Davenport 
Mr.  Earl  R.  Davis 
Mr.  Roscoe  M.  Dexter 
Mr.  Frank  K.  Dunne 
Dr.  George  H.  Edgell 
Mr.  Felix  Ferraris 
Mrs.  George  D.  Flynn,  Jr. 
Mr.  John  Rac  Gilman 
Mr.  Max  L.  Grant 
Major  Clarence  H.  Greene 
Miss  Katharine  C.  Greene 
Mr.  G.  Mason  Gross 
Mr.  Russell  C.  Harrington 
Frederic  \'.  Hussey,  M.D. 
Mr.  Donald  Eldridge  Jackson 
Mr.  S.  Eugene  Jackson 
Mr.  Edward   P.  jastram 
Mr.  Harold  W.  jollie 
Mr.  Maxim  Karolik 
Mrs.  Wallace  D.  Kenyon 
Mr.  Howard  Knight 


Mrs.  Webster  Knight,  II 

Mrs.  Henry  S.  Lanpher 

Mrs.  Ira  Lloyd  Letts 

Hon.  Benjamin  F.  Lindemuth 

Mr.  Harold  F.  Linder 

Mr.  Royal  Little 

Mrs.  W.  Easton  Louttit,  Jr. 

Mrs.  W.  E.  Louttit,  Sr. 

Mr.  H.  S.  McLcod 

Mr.  John  E.  Marshall 

Mr.  Edward  R.  Martin 

Mr.  Kent  F.  Matteson 

Mr.  Frank  Mauran,  Jr. 

Mr.  William  E.  Maynard 

Mr.  Edmund  C.  Mayo 

Mrs.  Pardon  Miller 

Mr.  Carleton  D.  Morse 

Mr.  J.  Benjamin  Nevin 

Mr.  Arthur  W.  Newell 

Mrs.  Samuel  M.  Nicholson 

Mr.  Randolph  T.  Ode 

Mr.  Ubaldo  Pesaturo 

Mr.  Clarence  H.  Philbrick 

Mr.  Roderick  Pirnie 

Mr.  William  C.  Poland 

Prof.  Charles  Alex.  Robinson,  Jr. 

Mr.  Elmer  F.  Seabury 

Mr.  Godfrey  B.  Simonds 

Mr.  George  Paul  Slade* 

Mr.  Vincent  Sorrentino 

Mr.  George  S.  Squibb 

Miss  Margaret  Stearns 

Mr.  Herbert  A.  Stevens 

Mr.  Edward  A.  Stockwell 

Mr.  Francis  H.  Stone,  Jr. 

Mr.  Milton  Sulzberger 

Mr.  Bradford  F.  Swan 

Mr.  William  L.  Sweet 

Hon.  Eric  A.  O'D.  Taylor 

Col.  Charles  F.  Tillinghast 

Mrs.  Arthur  Milton  Walker* 

Niles  Westcott,  M.D. 

Mr.  Henry  L.  Wilcox 

Mr.  Frederick  B.  Wilcox 

Mrs.  Maurice  Wolf 


*Former  Member 


30439 

Rhode    Island 

Historical     Society 

Collections 


Vol.  XXXIV 


JULY,   1941 


stone  firepi-ace,  thomas  ci.emence  house  (c.  1680),  johnston,  r.  i. 
dimensions:  9  feet  wide,  3!^  deep,  6  feet  high. 


Issued  Quarterly 


68  Waterman  Street,  Providence,  Rhode  Island 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


Stone  Fireplace,  Thomas  Ci.emence  House 


PAGE 

.    Cover 


The  Thomas  Clemence  House  (c.  1680) 
by  John  Hutchins  Cady 


65 


Judith  Paul's  Sampler 

bv  Gertrude  Townsend 


79 


President  Messer  and  the  Brown  of  1819 
bv  Merrill  R.  Patterson  .... 


81 


The  Cabinet  of  the  Society 
by  William  Greene  Roclker 


90 


Mill  Stream 

by  Hortense  Lion 

Reviezveti  by  Bradford  Fuller  Swan 


92 


Henry  W.  Longfellow  and  Montecassino 
by  Reverend  Sabatino  lannetta 
Reviewed  by  Henry  Wadsworth  Longfellow  Dana 


93 


George  Richardson,  Pewterer 
by  Dr.  Madelainc  R.  Brown 


94 


A  Partial  List  of  Accessions 


Additions  and  Changes  in  Membership 


96 

Back 
Cover 


RHODE 
HISTORICAL 


ISLAND 

SOCIETY 


"'"'•■IIU* 


COLLECTIONS 


Vol.  XXXIV 


JULY,   1941 


No.  3 


Charles  F.  Stearns,  President  Robert  T.  Downs,  Treasurer 

William  Davis  Miller,  Secretary        William  G.  Roelker,  Librarian 


The  Society  assumes  no  responsibility  for  the  statements  or  the  opinions 
of  contributors. 


The  Thomas  Clemence  House  (c.  1680) 

38  George  Waterman  Road,  Johnston,  R.  I. 
by  John  Hutchins  Cady,  F.A.I. A.* 

The  visible  evidences  of  antiquity  in  a  community  orig- 
inating in  Colonial  days  are  its  ancient  buildings.  As  links 
connecting  the  past  with  the  present  they  are  tangible 
historic  assets  whose  preservation  is  a  matter  of  importance. 
Many  structures  of  the  Colonial  and  early  Republican 
periods  are  standing  in  Rhode  Island.  Some  have  endured 
with  little  or  no  change,  or  have  been  restored  to  their 
original  state  j  some  have  been  enlarged  and  modernized 
and,  in  the  rehabilitation  process,  have  lost  some  of  their 
intrinsic  charm  j  others  are  in  various  stages  of  disrepair, 
and  are  threatened  with  destruction. 

An  accurate  restoration  of  the  earliest  form  of  Rhode 
Island  structure,  namely,  a  seventeenth  century  frame 
dwelling  of  the  stone-end  type,  is  an  event  of  historic 
significance  in  these  plantations.    Three  factors  are  neces- 


*  Mr.  Cadv  was  associated  with  Mr.  Norman  M.  Isham  in  the  recent 
restoration  of  the  house. — Ed. 


66 


RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 


FIGURE    1 

STONE      CHIMNEY, 

THOMAS 

CLEMENCE      HOUSE, 

BEFORE 

RESTORATION    IN    1938. 


sary  for  the  success  of  such  a 
project  J  first,  a  house  built  be- 
fore 1700  must  be  found,  and 
they  are  scarce  in  Rhode  Island  j 
second,  funds  must  be  provided 
for  a  purely  historic  purpose, 
since  the  restored  house  would 
not  be  adaptable  as  a  modern 
dwelling;  and,  third,  the  work 
must  be  supervised  and  executed 
by  persons  who  have  a  technical 
knowledge  of  early  American 
buildings  and  types  of  construc- 
tion. 

The  fortunate  conjunction  of 
these  three  factors  made  possible 
the  restoration  of  the  Thomas 

Clemence  house  on  George  Waterman  Road,  Johnston, 
as  an  authentic  example  of  an  early  Rhode  Island  dwell- 
ing. Built  about  1680  on  land  then  in  Providence  and, 
since  1759,  incorporated  in  the  town  of  Johnston,  the  house 
passed  through  various  hands  until  it  was  purchased,  in 
1938,  by  some  friends  of  old  houses.  They  delegated  its 
restoration  to  Mr.  Norman  M.  Isham,  F.  A.  I.  A.,  Rhode 
Island's  leading  exponent  of  Colonial  architecture,^  under 
whose  supervision  the  reconstruction  work  was  done  by 
Mr.  Joseph  H.  Bullock  of  Wickford,  a  specialist  in  early 
building  methods. 

During  its  successive  ownerships  the  house  had  been 
enlarged,  altered,  and  otherwise  "improved"  to  such  a 
degree  that  little  remained  of  its  first  appearance  save  the 
stone-end  chimney  (figures  1  and  2 ).  Reconstruction  work 
began  with  the  removal  of  everything  that  was  not  orig- 
inal: the  roof  and  wall  coverings  j  the  doors,  windows,  and 
dormer j   the  inside  partitions;   a  one-story  room  at  the 

^  Early  Rhode  Island  Houses,  by  Norman  M.  Isham  and  Albert  F. 
Brown,  (published  Providence,  1895),  is  the  most  reliable  source  of 
Information  with  respect  to  seventeenth  century  architecture  in  the  state. 


THE  THOMAS   CLEMENCE  HOUSE  67 

east  end  with  a  corner  fireplace,  used  as  a  parlor  j  a  large 
story-and-a-half  leanto  at  the  rear  (a  replacement  of  the 
original  leanto),  containing  a  kitchen,  bath  room,  and  rear 
stair  hall  in  the  first  story  and  two  bed  rooms  in  the  second; 
a  one-story  ell  at  the  northwest  corner  j  and  a  front  hall 
and  porch  at  the  southwest  corner,  the  former  having  a 
stairway  in  replacement  of  the  original  winding  stairs. 

Portions  of  the  work  removed  were  of  considerable 
antiquity  and  were  of  interest  in  reflecting  changing  trends 
and  tastes  in  house  planning  and  decoration.  The  brick 
oven,  adjoining  the  kitchen  fireplace,  was  an  early  mani- 
festation of  "modern"  kitchen  design.  The  vaulted  plaster 
ceiling  of  the  northwest  ell  provided  a  contrast  with  the 
rectangular  lines  of  the  other  rooms.  Removal  of  the  hand 
made  laths  and  plaster,  covered  by  numerous  layers  of 
wall  paper,  from  the  original  walls  and  partitions  revealed 
fragments  of  an  early  wall  paper  of  great  beauty,  possibly 
an  English  importation,  which  had  been  laid  directly  on 
the  old  wood  sheathing.  A  large  part  of  the  original 
framing  was  found  to  be  in  excellent  condition  and,  when 
laid  bare,  disclosed  significant  clues  to  the  dwelling's  orig- 
inal state  which  were  important  guides  to  its  restoration. 
The  great  stone  "hall"  fireplace,  when  freed  of  its  added 
encumbrances,  was  found,  fortunately,  to  be  intact.  While 
more  than  half  of  the  materials  comprising  the  house,  as 
finally  restored,  are  new,  the  design  and  construction  follow 
authentic  seventeenth  century  traditions  (see  figure  3). 

The  stone-end  houses  erected  in  Providence  before  the 
Indian  war  (1676)  usually  were  a  story  and  a  half  high, 
containing  a  single  room  with  a  large  fireplace  in  one  end 
in  the  first  story  and  a  chamber  in  the  garret.  Most  of 
them  were  burned  by  the  Indians.  When  the  town  was 
rebuilt  the  dwellings  were  larger,  some  with  an  extra  story 
and  many  having  leantos  in  the  rear.  The  stone  chimney 
continued  for  another  quarter  century  as  a  dominant  feature 
and  frequently  contained  two  fireplaces,  the  smaller  one 
serving  the  kitchen  in  the  leanto. 


68 


RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


FIGURE     2        THOMAS  CLEMENCE   HOUSE  AS   IT  APPEARED   C.    1870. 


FIGURE     3        THOMAS   CLEMENCE   HOUSE  AS   NOW   RESTORED. 


THE  THOMAS   CLEMENCE   HOUSE 


69 


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FIGURE   4        THOMAS    CLEMENCE    HOUSE.     DRAWING   OF    FRAMING   REPRO- 
DUCED   BY    COURTESY    OF    THE    HISTORIC    AMERICAN    BUILDINGS    SURVEY. 

The  Clemence  house  is  of  the  post-war  period.  It  is 
rectangular  in  plan,  a  story  and  a  half  high,  with  a  steep 
gable  roof  which  extends  over  the  rear  leanto  portion  at  a 
slightly  reduced  pitch."  The  main  entrance  door  opens 
into  the  "hall,"  fifteen  feet  square,  at  the  left  of  which  is 
the  stone  fireplace  (illustrated  on  cover),  nine  feet  wide, 
three  feet  and  a  half  deep,  and  six  feet  high.  On  the  right 
of  the  entrance  a  door  leads  to  the  principal  bed  room 
whose  area  is  about  fifteen  by  seven  feet.  Opposite  the 
main  entrance  another  door  opens  into  the  reconstructed 
leanto  comprising  a  kitchen  and  a  small  bed  room,  each 
eight  feet  in  width,  a  stone  fireplace  in  the  kitchen  flanking 
the  one  in  the  hall.  A  reconstructed  flight  of  winding  stairs 

"  Compare  the  gable  ends  in  figures  2  and  3.  In  the  former  a  larger 
leanto  had  been  added,  starting  from  the  roof  peak.  In  the  latter  the 
earlier  leanto  is  restored  (figure  4),  authority  for  which  was  a  sawed-off 
section  of  an  original  rafter  several  feet  below  the  roof  ridge. 


70  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

at  the  left  of  the  hall  fireplace  leads  to  a  chamber,  over 
which  the  roof  beams  are  exposed.  The  house  has  a  cellar 
which  is  entered  by  steps  cut  from  solid  blocks  of  wood 
beneath  a  trap  door  in  the  kitchen  floor. 

The  framing  (figure  4)  is  composed  of  oak  sills,  posts, 
and  girts,  with  a  "summer"^  carried  across  the  center 
of  the  hall,  all  mortised  and  tenoned  and  secured  with 
wooden  pins,  and  having  chamfered  edges.  The  sills  are 
laid  on  top  of  the  floor  joists  and  must  be  stepped  over  in 
passing  through  the  outside  doorways.  The  small  garret 
floor  joists  are  exposed  in  the  first  story  ceilings.  Unlike 
most  other  houses  erected  during  that  period  in  Providence 
and  vicinity  the  walls  are  studded,* — a  method  of  construc- 
tion then  common  in  Newport  and  the  Massachusetts  and 
Connecticut  colonies.  The  rafters  are  widely  spaced  and 
are  joined  by  small  horizontal  ribs,  eighteen  inches  on 
centers,  set  flush  with  the  tops  of  the  rafters,  and  to  those 
ribs  the  long  shingles  are  nailed.^ 

The  exterior  wall  studs  are  sheathed  with  boards  and 
covered  with  narrow  clapboards.  Each  outside  door  is 
made  of  three  thicknesses  of  planking,  secured  together 
by  knob-headed  nails.  The  windows  are  casements  and 
are  glazed  with  diamond-shaped  panes  of  leaded  glass. 
The  interior  walls  and  doors  are  sheathed  with  wide  verti- 
cal boards,  with  beveled  and  beaded  mouldings  worked 
along  the  edges.  Pine  boards  nearly  two  feet  in  width  cover 
the  floors. 

^  "The  heavv  beam  which  crosses  the  ceiling  of  a  room  from  girt  to 
girt  and  carries  the  joists  of  the  floor  above."  Norman  M.  Isham,  A  Glos- 
sary of  Colonial  Architectural  Terms,  a  publication  of  The  Walpole 
Society  (New  York,  1939). 

*  The  use  of  studs  for  wall  construction  in  frame  houses  did  not  become 
common  in  Providence  until  the  nineteenth  century.  Before  then  the 
walls  usuallv  were  composed  of  vertical  boards,  nailed  to  the  heavy  frame, 
and  lined  on  the  outside  with  clapboards  or  shingles. 

^  The  ribs  are  identified  in  figure  4  as  "nailers  for  boarding." 

^  These  are  similar  to  a  fragment  of  a  leaded  glass  window  from  the 
Arthur  Fenner  house  (1655)  in  the  R.  I.  H.  S.  collection. 


11 


THE  THOMAS   CLEMENCE   HOUSE  71 

Thomas  Clemence,  an  Englishman,  settled  in  Provi- 
dence as  early  as  1645,  as  evidenced  by  his  signature  to  a 
compact,  dated  the  19th  of  the  11th  month  of  that  year, 
by  which  the  subscribers,  in  return  for  the  grant  of  twenty- 
five  acres  of  land  each,  promised  "to  yield  Active  j  or 
passive  Obeydience,  to  the  Authority  of  King,  &  parlia- 
ment, established  in  this  Collonye  ...."'  He  was  a  friend 
of  Roger  Williams  and  a  cousin  of  Gregory  Dexter,**  the 
printer,  with  whom  he  may  have  journeyed  to  Providence 
from  England. 

While  most  of  the  early  Providence  settlers  lived  on 
the  Towne  street"'  and  waded  across  the  river  at  low  tide 
to  their  agricultural  lands  "on  Weybosset  side,"^"  Clem- 
ence had  a  preference  for  country  life.  Accordingly,  he 
purchased  a  five-acre  lot  from  Thomas  Harris  in  1647, 
located  near  the  mouth  of  Woonasquatucket  river  where 
it  flowed  into  the  great  salt  cove  or  "sea",^'  and  there 

'  Early  Records,  2,  29. 

'^  Roger  Williams,  when  in  England  in  1652,  wrote  from  the  home 
of  Sir  Henry  Vane  at  Whitehall  to  Gregory  Dexter  at  Providence: 
"My  Love  to  yo'r  Cozen  Clements  .  .  ."  Ibid,  15,  62. 

^  The  present  North  Main  and  South  Main  streets. 

^^  The  wading  place  was  from  Steeple  Street  to  Washington  Row 
(Hospital  Trust  Bldg.).  The  first  bridge  across  the  river  was  built  in 
1660  and  removed,  or  washed  away,  about  1675.  Not  until  1710  was 
the  next  bridge  erected  at  the  location  of  Market  Square. 

"  "The  7th  of  the  12th  m.  1647  (called).  Thomas  Harris  sold  unto 
Thomas  Clemence  his  five  acres  of  land  adjoyning  to  Thomas  Angels, 
over  against  the  Towne."  Early  Records,  2,  8. 

"Januarey  the  27  1648.  Thomas  Angell  of  Providence  sold  unto 
James  Mattason  a  five  acre  lott  lieing  on  the  East  Side  of  the  land  which 
Thomas  Clement  now  livith  upon  bounded  on  the  East  with  the  land 
of  Benedick  Arnold  on  the  North  with  the  Sea  as  is  manefested  by  a 
deede  uneier  his  hande."    Ibid,  2,  21. 

Clemence  also  purchased  of  William  Carpenter,  in  1648,  a  "percell 
of  land  to  the  value  of  5  acres  more  or  lesse  the  which  land  lieth  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river  Called  wanasquatucket,"  this  being  a  short  distance 
up  the  river  from  his  house.  Cf.  Early  Records,  2,  21  and  Charles  W. 
Hopkins,  Home  Lots  of  the  Ern-ly  Settlers  (Providence,  1886),  64. 

^'  The  tidewater  cove  originally  covered  the  area  between  Exchange 
Place  and  the  State  House  grounds,  extending  from  Canal  Street  west- 


72  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


erected  his  first  dwelling^'^  where,  presumably,  he  resided 

with  his  wife  Elizabeth."    In  the  levy  of  September  2, 

1650,  he  was  taxed  to  the  amount  of  six  shillings  eight- 
is 
pence. 

On  January  9,  1654,  Clemence  purchased  of  an  Indian 

named  Wissowyamake  a  "medow  Containing  about  8  Akers 

mor  or  lese  a  broke  [brook]  at  each  End  and  a  hille  on 

the  weaste  sid  of  it  and  wenasbetuckit  [Woonasquatucket] 

river  on  the  other  sid  of  it."^'^  A  town  record  (without  date) 

describes  the  purchase  as  containing  "five  Acors  of  meddow 

lieing  on  the  South  West  Side  of  wanasquatuckett  River 

about  a  mile  Northwest  from  the  place  Comonly  Called 

Venter,"  Bounded  on  the  West  with  a  hill,  on  the  East 

with  Wanasquatuckett  River  ^  on  the  North  with  a  Small 

Streame,  and  on  the  South,  with  a  Small  Streame:  this 

land  being  purchased  by  the  Saide  Tho  Clement  of  the 

Indeans."^^  The  bounds  define  the  general  locality  of  the 

present  house. 


19 


ward  to  the  mouth  of  Woonasquatucket  river  near  Acorn  Street.  In  1  846 
work  was  commenced  on  the  construction  of  an  elliptical  cove  basin, 
surrounded  by  a  retaining  wall,  outside  of  which  the  easterly  cove  lands 
were  filled.  The  cove  basin  was  removed,  1889-1898,  retaining  walls 
were  built  for  Woonasquatucket  and  Moshassuck  river  canals,  and  the 
remainder  of  the  cove  lands  were  filled. 

^^  The  spot  probably  was  near  the  present  Nicholson  File  Company 
plant. 

"They  had  four  children:  Richard,  Thomas  Jr.,  Elizabeth,  and 
Content.  Richard's  eldest  child  Sarah  was  born  in  1668,  indicating  that 
her  grandparents  were  married  at  least  twenty-one  years  earlier. 

^"^  Early  Records,  15,  33. 

^^  lipid',  1,  20. 

^^  "Venter:  a  name  formerly  given  to  a  brook  flowing  into  the  Woonas- 
quatucket river  directly  north  of  the  present  village  of  Merino  in  the 
town  of  Johnston,  as  well  as  to  the  meadows  north  of  the  brook  and  to 
the  general  locality."  Seventeenth  Century  Place-names,  1693-1100, 
comp.  by  Clarence  S.  Brigham  (Providence,  1903). 

^^  Early  Records,  2,  36. 

^^  Inasmuch  as  the  house  is  located  about  2000  feet  from  the  river  the 
extent  of  the  estate  on  which  it  was  erected,  as  defined  by  the  bounds, 
would  comprise  over  20  acres.    It  appears,  therefore,  that  additional  land 


THE  THOMAS   CLEMENCE   HOUSE  73 

In  succeeding  years  Clemence,  by  town  grant  or  pur- 
chase, increased  his  two  estates  above  mentioned,  and 
acquired  additional  lands  at  Pawtuxet,  Mashapaug  (  Elm- 
wood),  Gotham  ( Olneyville),  Weybosset  point  (Turks 
Head ),  and  other  localities,  some  of  which  he  subsequently 
sold."" 

Thomas  Clemence  took  an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of 
the  town.  He  was  one  of  six  "jurey  men"  chosen  at  the 
quarter  court  April  27,  1660.''  He  was  appointed  "cun- 
stable"  in  1661"  and,  while  serving  in  that  capacity,  was 
ordered  to  "goe  unto  the  Indians  dwelling  at  pomecans- 
sett,"  And  unto  other  Indians  living  neere  this  Townej 
and  warne  them  to  Take  som  Course  with  theire  Dogges, 
to  Keep  them  from  falling  upon  the  Inglish  Cattell .  .  .  ."'* 
He  was  chosen  to  represent  the  town  of  Providence  at  a 
Court  of  Commissioners  at  Portsmouth  in  October,  1663, 
and  at  a  Court  of  Deputies  at  Newport  in  March,  1665 
and  March,  1671."'  In  1667  he  was  chosen  town  treasurer^^ 
and  in  the  same  year  was  named  to  serve  on  the  petty  jury 
at  the  Court  of  Trials.'' 


was  acquired  before  the  house  was  built.  The  boundary  designated  as 
"a  hill"  is  vague,  as  the  land  rises  gradually  from  Woonasquatucket  river 
to  a  height  of  300  feet  about  a  mile  to  the  west.  That  elevation  was 
known  as  Ossapimsuck  hill  and  was  the  site  of  an  Indian  corn  field  through 
which  an  Indian  path  led  to  Connecticut.  (H.  R.  Chace,  "Our  Oldest 
House,"  Providence  Journal^  March  20,  1910.)  The  southern  brook, 
flowing  nearby  the  Clemence  house,  is  identified  on  the  Caleb  Harris  map 
of  1795  as  Assapumpset   [Ossapimsuck]. 

-''  Earl^  Records,  1,  8;  2,  34;  3,  246;  14,  54,  66,  109,  149,  185; 
20,  282. 

-^  Ibid,  2,  126. 

--//././,  3,  5. 

"^  "Pomecansett:  the  neck  of  land  between  the  present  Fields  Point 
and  Sassafras  Point,"  Brigham:  op.  cit.  Now  the  location  of  the  municipal 
dock  and  sewage  disposal  plant. 

''^  Early  Records,  3,  7. 

-'"Ibid,  3,  40,  71,  219. 

-''  Ibid,  3,  103. 

-'Ibid,  3,  109. 


74  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

When  most  of  the  citizens  removed  with  their  families 
and  effects  to  Newport  in  1676,  to  escape  the  dangers  of 
the  Indian  war,  Clemence  was  one  of  twenty-seven  men 
who  "staid  and  went  not  away,""^  The  house  in  which  he 
was  then  living,  like  most  others  in  the  town,  was  destroyed 
by  the  Indians.  That  was  ill  payment  for  his  acts  of  kind- 
ness to  them,  as  reflected  in  a  letter  written  by  Roger 
Williams""  October  16,  1676,  stating  that  "two  Indian 
children  were  brought  to  me  by  one  Thomas  Clements, 
who  had  his  house  burnt  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.'*" 
He  was  in  his  orchard,  and  two  Indian  children  came  boldly 

^^  Ibid,  8,  12. 

^^  The  letter  was  written  from  Providence  and  addressed  "To  the 
much  honored  the  Governor  Leverett,  at  Boston,  or  the  Governor 
Winslow,  at  Boston,  present."  J.  R.  Bartlett:  The  letters  of  Roger 
Williafns,  Publications  of  the  Narragansett  Club,  (Providence,  1874), 
VI,  385. 

^^  The  location  of  the  house  that  was  burnt  is,  at  this  writing,  a  matter 
of  speculation.  Clemence  is  known  to  have  resided  in  two  houses,  one 
erected  c.  1647  on  the  south  shore  of  the  cove,  near  the  mouth  of 
Woonasquatucket  river  (identified,  for  convenience,  as  site  A)  and  the 
other  built  c.  1680  and  constituting  the  subject  matter  of  this  paper 
(site  B).  He  owned,  among  numerous  other  lands,  a  lot  near  the  western 
end  of  the  town  bridge  in  1666  {Early  Records,  20,  282),  in  the  vicinitv 
of  the  present  Turks  Head,  and  may  have  erected,  and  dwelt  in,  a 
house  there  (site  C).  He  is  known  to  have  been  in  residence  at  site  A 
in  1670  and  1680  (Early  Records,  3,  155;  14,  54),  and  at  site  B  in  1686 
(Early  Records,  14,  149).  Where  was  he  living  in  1676  when  his  house 
was  burnt?  Probably  not  at  site  A  for  he  would  not  be  apt  to  rebuild 
at  that  site  after  the  fire  and  shortly  afterwards  erect  a  house  at  site  B. 
He  may  have  built  an  earlier  house  at  site  B  and  resided  there  in  1676; 
the  chimney  of  the  present  house  may  even  be  the  original  stack,  salvaged 
from  the  fire.  That  is  a  reasonable  and  a  traditional  theory,  although 
unsupported  by  documentary  evidence,  and  would  explain  Clemence's 
return  to  site  A  during  construction  of  his  new  dwelling  at  site  B.  A  still 
more  likely  conjecture,  also  unsupported  by  records,  would  identify  the 
location  of  the  burnt  house  at  site  C  near  the  town  bridge,  "on  the  other 
side  of  the  river"  from  William  Field's  house  (the  present  50  South 
Main  Street),  where  the  citizens  who  "staid  and  went  not  awav"  were 
garrisoned  during  the  attack  by  the  Indians. 


34 


THE  THOMAS   CLEMENCE   HOUSE  75 

to  him.  .  .  .  The  boy  tells  me,  that  a  youth,  one  Mittonan, 
brought  them  to  the  sight  of  Thomas  Clements,  and  bid 
them  go  to  that  man,  and  he  would  give  them  bread  .  .  ." 
After  suffering  the  destruction  of  his  house  in  March, 
1676,  Clemence  was  saddened,  a  few  months  later,  by  the 
death  of  his  son,  Thomas  Junior,  "in  ye  flowre  of  his 
youth." "^  In  spite  of  these  adversities,  and  his  advancing 
years,  he  commenced  the  erection  of  a  new  dwelling  about 
1680,  the  one  recently  restored.  His  neighbors  were  the 
Mantons,  Olneys,  Angells  and  Smiths  who  dwelt  on  large 
nearby  farms.'*'  The  tax  list  of  1684  records  a  levy  of  five 
shillings  sixpence  against  Thomas  Clemence  and  two  shill- 
ings against  his  son  Richard. 

Thomas  Clemence  died  in  1688,  and  the  inventory  of 
his  estate  showed  a  valuation  of  thirty-eight  pounds  and 
four  shillings.  His  property  passed  to  Richard  Clemence, 
administrator  of  his  estate,  who  had  married,  some  twenty 
years  previously,  Sarah  Smith,  a  descendant  of  John  Smith, 
the  town's  first  miller.  By  later  purchases  Richard  increased 
the  area  of  the  farm  to  about  three  hundred  acres.  In  1  703 
a  highway  was  stated  through  a  portion  of  the  Clemence 
farm  and  over  Ossapimsuck  hillj"''  it  became  the  road  to 
Killingiy  in  1728'"'  and  is  now  identified  as  the  Greenville 
road. 

Richard  Clemence  died  in  1723  and  bequeathed  to  his 
eldest  son  Thomas  all  his  "Lands  meadows  and  Tenements 
scituate  Lieing  and  being  Within  the  Towne  ship  of  Provi- 
dence af ores'd  and  on  both  sides  of  the  River  called  Wonas- 
quotuckett  River  being  all  my  Homestead  and  Lands 
adjoyning  ....  "'^'  An  inventory  of  his  estate,  taken  October 

"^  Early  Records,  8,  14. 
^"  Chace,  loc.  cit. 
^^  Early  Records,  1  7,  4+,  46. 

■'''*  Thomas  Clemence  previously,  in  1681,  had  deeded  to  Richard  his 
farm  comprising  60  acres  of  upland  and  meadow,  Deed  Book,  9,  81-82. 
"''"Early  Records,  5,  134. 
'"'  Ibid,  9,  49. 
^^  Ibid,  \  6,  292. 


76  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

24,  1723,  showed  a  total  valuation  of  £340-1 3s- lOd/' 

In  1744  Thomas  Clemence  the  younger  (born  1693) 
agreed  to  sell  the  farm  to  John  Angell,  and  gave  him  a 
deed  to  the  property  the  following  year.  Subsequently 
Angell  entered  suit  against  Clemence,  and  was  awarded  a 
verdict,  for  three  hundred  acres  of  arable,  pasture,  wood, 
orchard,  and  meadow  land,  together  with  the  dwelling- 
house,  barn,  shop,  and  crib.°^  Neither  John  Angell  nor  his 
son  James,  who  succeeded  to  his  estate,  dwelt  permanently 
on  the  former  Clemence  farm/"  James  Angell  married 
Mary  Mawney,  daughter  of  Colonel  Peter  and  Mary 
Tillinghast  Mawney  of  Frenchtown.  Their  children,  who 
inherited  the  property,  transferred  the  farm  to  Jacob  Whit- 
man Jr.,  in  trust  for  Abigail,  one  of  their  number  and  wife 
of  William  Goddard,^^  first  publisher  of  the  Providence 
Gazette.  The  Goddards  lived  in  the  homestead  after  1792 
and  it  was  there  that  Professor  William  Giles  Goddard 
(1794-1846)  of  Brown  University  was  born.  When  a 
highway  was  constructed  through  the  farm  from  the  Kill- 
ingly  road  to  the  Putnam  pike  it  was  named  Goddard  road 
in  his  honor.  Later  it  was  changed  to  George  Waterman 
road. 


''^  Ibid,  16,  295.  Among  the  items  of  the  inventory  were  the  following: 
"Money  scales  and  weights  and  seaven  sheets  and  a  pillow  beere  and  table 
Lining  and  two  Chests  and  a  Trunk  and  woollen  and  tow  yearne  .  .  . 
a  feather  Beed  Bedstead  and  furniture  .  .  .  three  Beeds  and  Bedsteads 
and  furniture  .  .  .  two  warming  pans  and  three  Bottles  and  a  Lanthorn 
and  a  Trunk  and  three  pound  and  a  halfe  of  woll  and  a  bell  and  sum 
fethers  and  six  sickels  ...  a  feather  bed  Bedstead  and  furniture  .  .  . 
puter  and  Brass  and  Iron  vessels  .  .  .  Andirons  and  tramels  and  fire  shovels 
and  tongs  and  a  Gridiron  and  a  pan  and  a  Gun  and  stillards  [scales]  .  .  . 
a  saddle  and  bridle  and  Tables  stooles  and  Chcars  .  .  ." 

^^  Chace,  loc.  cit. 

'*'*  John  Angell's  house  and  shop  were  located  at  the  present  southwest 
corner  of  North  Main  and  Steeple  streets;  he  distilled  rum  on  the  site 
where  the  First  Baptist  Meeting  House  afterwards  was  erected  (1775). 
His  son,  Brigadier  General  James  Angell,  town  clerk  1758-1775,  dwelt 
on  an  estate  at  "Weybosset  Plains"  where  Westminster  and  Knight  streets 
now  intersect.    Chace,  loc.  cit. 

■^^  William  Goddard  founded  the  Providence  Gazette  (1763),  which 
he  published  until  Xlbl ,  when  it  was  taken  over  by  his  mother,  Sarah 
Goddard,  in  association  with    John  Carter.    Goddard  removed  to  New 


THE  THOMAS   CLEMENCE  HOUSE  77 

The  farm,  having  been  owned,  successively,  by  three 
generations  of  Clemences  and  three  generations  of  Angells, 
was  sold  December  18,  1  826,  by  Abigail  Goddard  and  her 
children  to  Elder  Stephen  Sweet^'  who  resided  in  the 
homestead  with  his  wife  Phebe  and  their  children.  He 
laid  out  a  small  tract  as  a  family  burial  place  about  five 
hundred  feet  east  of  Goddard  road.  Following  the  death 
(1854)  of  Stephen  Sweet  the  farm  was  partitioned,  May 
15,  1855,  among  his  several  heirs  at  law,  in  which  division 
his  daughter,  Sarah  Manton,  wife  of  Amasa  Irons,  became 
possessed  of  the  homestead,  barns,  and  other  buildings,  and 
about  fifteen  acres  of  land  extending  easterly  to  Woonas- 
quatucket  river.  By  a  further  division  in  1892  Ellen  E. 
Irons  acquired  the  homestead  lot  west  of  Goddard  (George 
Waterman)  road  and  dwelt  in  the  house  until  her  death, 
a  short  time  previous  to  its  sale  in  1938. 

Following  the  restoration  of  the  house  the  various  out- 
buildings were  removed,  the  old  well  curb  was  restored, 
and  the  grounds  were  graded  and  improved.  The  house, 
with  its  replicas  of  seventeenth  century  furniture,  now 
stands  as  the  most  authentic  restoration  in  Providence 
County  of  an  early  Rhode  Island  dwelling. 

York,  and  later  to  Baltimore  where  he  continued  his  newspaper  work. 
He  married  Abigail  Angell  in  1786.  and  returned  to  Providence  in  1792. 
C/.  Lawrence  C.  Wroth,  A  History  of  Prhiti/jg  in  Colonial  Maryland 
(Baltimore,  1922),  pp.  119-146  and  W.  Bird  Terwilliger,  "William 
Goddard's  Victory  for  the  Freedom  of  the  Press,"  The  Maryland  His- 
torical Magazine ',XXXV\,  pp.  139-149. 

■*"  The  land  conveyed  to  Elder  Sweet,  as  defined  in  the  deed  of  sale, 
was  bounded  "southerly  on  the  great  road  so-called  [the  present  Green- 
ville road]  in  Johnston  .  .  .  and  by  land  belonging  to  William  Manton 
to  the  middle  of  the  Woonasquatucket  River,  easterly  by  the  middle  of 
the  River  .  .  .  northerly  on  land  belonging  to  [Isaac]  Arnold  and 
Nathaniel  Angell  .  .  .  and  westerly  on  lands  belonging  to  said  Town  of 
Johnston,  Charles  Ceasar,  Benjamin  Sweet  and  Jeremiah  Manton  .  .  . 
excepting  .  .  .  the  lands  contained  therein  which  Zachariah  Allen  has 
purchased  ...  [8;^  acres]  .  .  .  and  excepting  further  all  lands  .  .  . 
flowed  bv  the  L}man  Mfg.  Co.  by  force  ...  of  an  agreement  made  .  .  . 
Januarv  14,  1809.  The  premises  hereby  conveyed  containing  about  35  5 
acres  more  or  less  and  together  with  the  lands  contained  in  the  exceptions 
aforesaid  is  the  same  farm  more  or  less  which  belonged  to  William  God- 
dard  deceased  and  said  Abigail  Goddard  at  the  time  of  his  decease." 


JUDITH  Paul's  sampler  (1791)  in  the  collections  of  the 

RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


JUDITH  Paul's  sampler  79 

Judith  Paul's  Sampler  (1791) 

By  Gertrude  Townsend* 

Among  the  samplers  in  the  Exhibition  of  New  England 
Embroideries  before  1800  recently  held  in  the  Museum 
of  Fine  Arts,  Boston,  were  several  characteristic  examples 
of  Rhode  Island  needlework.  Judith  Paul's  sampler,  one 
of  the  most  pleasing,  is  illustrated  on  the  opposite  page. 

While  the  workmanship  is  not  of  the  finest  quality  the 
sampler  is  well  planned  and  executed  in  an  effective  man- 
ner. The  ground  material  is  a  light  neutral  brown  linen 
with  a  rather  open  weave.  The  design  is  charmingly 
worked  in  crimson,  pink,  blue,  bluish  green,  neutral  yellow, 
brown,  black  and  cream  white,  the  pupil  using  cross,  tent, 
Roumanian  or  Oriental,  satin,  stem  and  rococo  stitches. 

The  small  number  of  1 7th  century  New  England  sam- 
plers which  survive  suggests  that  comparatively  few  were 
made  in  colonial  homes,  from  want  of  leisure  or  inclina- 
tion. Of  the  two  English  types,  one  —  which  went  out  of 
fashion  by  1650  —  was  a  piece  of  linen  without  formal 
plan,  on  which  an  irregular  scattering  of  detached  designs, 
flowers,  fruit,  animals,  insects  and  portions  of  small-scale 
all-over  patterns  was  worked.  The  other  type  was  a  nar- 
row strip  of  linen  decorated  with  horizontal  bands  of 
embroidery  or  lace  containing  floral  or  geometric  figures, 
the  alphabet  and  Arabic  numerals.  These  samplers  served 
as  records  of  patterns  which  could  be  used  for  ornament- 
ing book-covers,  purses,  needle-cases,  cushions  and  various 
articles  intended  for  dress  and  household  use. 

Probably  the  earliest  surviving  New  England  sampler 
which  bears  witness  to  the  continuance  of  the  English  tra- 
ditions in  needlework,  was  worked  by  Loara  Standish 
(1623-53),  daughter  of  Miles  Standish.^  At  first  glance 

*  Gertrude  Townsend,  Curator  of  Textiles,   Museum  of  Fine  Arts, 
Boston,  is  a  recognized  authority  on  all  types  of  needle-work. — Ed. 
'  Now  in  Pilgrim  Hall,  Plymouth. 


80  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

it  appears  to  be  characteristically  English:  a  narrow  strip 
of  linen  crossed  by  horizontal  bands  of  ornament.  How- 
ever it  contains  one  element  which  is  seldom  found  in 
English  samplers  before  the  1 8th  century,  the  pious  verse. 
After  a  series  of  decorative  bands  she  worked  "Loara 
Standish  is  my  name"  then  these  lines:  "Lord  guide  my 
Heart  that  I  may  do  thy  Will  ||  And  fill  my  Heart  with 
such  convenient  skill  ||  As  will  conduce  to  Virtue  void  of 
shame  ||  And  I  will  give  the  Glory  to  Thy  Name."  Thus 
we  see  that  when  Judith  Paul  worked  virtuous  sentiments 
in  her  sampler  she  was  following  a  custom  established  in 
New  England  about  150  years  earlier. 

Many  of  Judith  Paul's  stitches  are  found  in  17th  cen- 
tury English  samplers,  though  she  executed  them  with  less 
care  and  with  a  greater  interest  in  speed  and  effectiveness. 
In  this  she  was  following  the  general  trend  of  1 8th  century 
New  England  embroidery.  Since  a  sampler  was  important 
evidence  of  a  young  lady's  education  in  the  late  18th  and 
early  19th  centuries  it  is  not  surprising  that  many  were 
worked  in  private  finishing  schools.  Naturally  the  em- 
broidery mistress's  taste  often  influenced  her  pupil's  work. 

In  American  Samplers y  nine  samplers  made  between 
1782  and  1800  are  attributed  to  pupils  in  Miss  Polly 
Balch's  Seminary^  in  Providence,  Judith  Paul's  among 
them.  There  is  freedom,  variety  and  individual  character 
in  these  designs  yet  all  have  qualities  in  common  which 
gives  them  a  family  resemblance. 

It  is  a  pity  so  little  seems  to  be  known  about  Miss  Polly 
Balch  apart  from  the  fact  that  she  kept  a  well  known 
school.  I  hope  that  some  day  a  letter  or  diary  written  by 
one  of  her  pupils  will  tell  us  whether  she  herself  taught 
needlework  or  whether  it  is  to  one  of  her  teachers  that 
some  of  the  charm  of  Judith  Paul's  sampler  is  due. 

■  Ethel  Stanwood  Bolton  and  Eva  Johnston  Coe,  American  Samflers 
(Boston,  1 92 1 ) ,  a  publication  of  the  Massachusetts  Society  of  the  Colonial 
Dames  of  America,  pp.  102,  366. 

^  The  first  edition  of  Providence  City  Directory  (1824)  in  the  R.  I. 
H.  S.  Collections  gives  the  address  of  Miss  Mary  Balch's  boarding  school, 
22  George  Street. 


PRESIDENT   MESSER  AND  BROWN  81 

President  Messer  and  the  Brown  of   1819 

Merrill  R.  Patterson* 

Sumner  Lincoln  Fairfield,  a  bombastic  yet  sensitive  poet 
in  the  Miltonic  tradition,  was  a  student  for  the  two  years, 
1818-20,  at  Brown  University.  He  is  of  interest  to  the 
literary  historian  for  three  reasons:  as  a  man  who  had  wide 
and  varied  acquaintance  with  many  important  American 
literary  figures  of  his  time,  as  the  founder  and  editor  of 
The  North  American  Magazine^  and  as  one  of  the  victims  of 
Bulwer-Lytton's  plagiarism.  Bulwer  in  his  Last  Days  of 
Pompeii  took  scenes,  characters,  and  much  of  the  story  from 
Fairfield's  poem  The  Last  Night  of  Pompeii.^ 

After  the  lapse  of  almost  a  century  and  a  quarter,  the 
violent  reactions  of  the  young  poet  to  his  college  instructors 
and  environment  may  afford  some  amusement.  By  dis- 
guising names  and  occasionally  juggling  facts,  Fairfield 
hoped  to  escape  detection,  while  at  the  same  time  he  gave 
unbridled  rein  to  his  feelings. 

The  Providence  that  Fairfield  saw  in  1818  was  far  dif- 
ferent from  the  busy,  built-up  city  of  today.  The  large 
area  lying  between  Thayer  Street,  East  Avenue,  and  the 
Seekonk  River  consisted  at  that  time  of  unoccupied  mead- 
ows and  pastures.  The  students  in  the  springtime  walked 
through  a  rural  Angell  Street  to  the  "Red  Bridge."  Samuel 
Brenton  Shaw,  Brown  1819,  wrote :  "The  only  houses  then 
visible  from  the  college  in  the  above-named  space  were 
those  of  my  father-in-law.  Colonel  Alexander  Jones, 
Governor  Fenner's  and  Moses  Brown's  .   .   .   No  other 


♦Merrill  R.  Patterson,  B.S.  (Wesleyan)  '25,  A.M.  (Brown)  '30, 
Ph.D.  (Yale)  '33,  is  at  present  Hillyer  Professor  of  English,  and  Chair- 
man of  the  Department  at  Marietta  College,  Marietta,  Ohio,  founded 
1797.  — Ed. 

^  See  the  author's  article  in  the  Dictionary  of  American  Biography, 
Vol.  VI,  p.  258  for  a  fuller  account  of  Fairfield's  life.  Fairfield  was  born 
June  25,  1803;  died  March  7,  1844. 


82  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

Street  but  Angell  then  led  directly  to  the  river.  What 
is  now  Waterman  street  was  chiefly  a  pasture  for  horses. 
A  footpath  led  through  it  to  Angell,  which  I  travelled 
every  Sunday,  in  going  to  St.  John's  Church. 

"The  only  houses  on  Prospect  street  were  those  of 
Colonel  Thomas  Halsey  and  his  son-in-law,  Captain 
[John  O.]  Creighton  [of  the  Navy].  From  George  street 
to  Power,  through  Brown,  the  brick  house  then  occupied 
by  Mr.  Moses  Eddy  was  the  only  one  erected  on  the  latter, 
and  on  College  street  as  far  as  Benefit  the  only  house  was 
that  occupied  by  a  Mr.  [Edwin]  Jenckes."' 

As  for  the  college  itself,  Shaw  relates  that  Old  Univer- 
sity Hall  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Messer's  barn  were  the  only 
buildings  on  the  campus,  although  the  president's  house 
was  inside  the  "college  grounds."  The  thrifty  Dr.  Messer 
kept  both  his  grass  and  his  feed  bills  low  by  allowing  his 
horse  and  cow  to  roam  at  will  in  his  front  yard.  "At  that 
time  [continues  Shaw]  there  were  one  hundred  students, 
all  of  whom  slept  and  studied  in  the  college,  and  most  of 
them,  except  city  students,  took  their  meals  there.  The  late 
Joseph  Cady,  the  steward,  provided  for  every  want,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  term  assessed  the  expense  per  week  upon 
each  student,  which  never  exceeded  $  1 .40  .  .  .  There  was 
a  vacation  of  two  months  from  Christmas,  to  which  many 
students  were  permitted  to  add  another  month,  when,  by 
keeping  school,  they  earned  enough  to  pay  their  board  for 
the  whole  year."" 

Into  this  atmosphere  of  stiff-collared  professors  and 
pastoral  surroundings  stepped  the  youthful  Fairfield  at 
four  o'clock  on  a  damp,  foggy  morning  in  October.  Here 
mother  and  son  separated  for  the  first  time,  his  mother's 

-Memories  of  Broivn,  Providence,  1909,  pp.  38-39.  Editors:  R.  P. 
Brown,  1871  ;  H.  R.  Palmer,  1890;  Harrv  Lyman  Koopman,  Librarian; 
C.  S.  Brigham,  1899. 

"  Ibid.  In  [1819]  Fairfield  taught  school  in  the  vicinity  of  the  college. 
{The  Poems  and  Prose  Writings  of  Sumner  Lincoln  Fairfield,  Phil- 
adelphia,  1841,  p.  vii.) 


PRESIDENT   MESSER  AND  BROWN  83 

sobs  growing  fainter  and  fainter  as  the  Boston  stagecoach 
moved  on.  The  forlorn  boy  was  coming  in  advance  to  take 
the  Brown  entrance  examination.  Under  the  caption 
"College,  October  3  [1818],"  he  records  in  his  Journal: 
"I  have  passed  the  ordeal.  The  grave  visages  of  erudite 
and  critical  professors  affright  my  soul  no  more."* 

His  first  impressions  of  college  were  pleasurable.  He 
says  enthusiastically,  "Young,  active,  gay  companions, 
gather  around  to  welcome  me  j  the  old  gruff  president  [Asa 
Messer]  almost  smiled  j  the  professors  relax  their  features 
as  they  pass,  and  the  tutors  whisper  [to]  each  other  in 
commendation."''  Evidently  Fairfield  had  passed  a  very 
high  examination. 

Even  though  he  was  happy  these  first  few  days,  the  ser- 
pent was  not  long  in  entering  his  Eden.  His  earlier  gloomy 
prediction  that  the  student  would  probably  find  college 
"a  different  place  before  he  leaves  it"*^  came  true  about  a 
month  later.  In  the  November  6th  entry  of  the  Journal  of 
a  Student y  the  poet  takes  occasion  to  berate  several  of  his 
instructors,  but  especially  he  concentrates  his  wrath  upon 
the  president  of  the  university.  For  obvious  reasons  he  does 
not  use  their  real  names,  but  resorts  to  fictitious  epithets.^ 

One   of   his   victims,    referred    to    sarcastically   as   the 


'^  Ne-LV-York  Mirror,  and  Ladies'  Literary  Gazette,  IV,  49,  June  30, 
1827,  p.  [385].  "The  Journal  of  a  Student,"  later  published  in  the 
Necv-York  Mirror  in  1827,  supplies  much  valuable  information  concern- 
ing Fairfield's  two  years  at  Brown  University,  but  we  must  be  cautioned 
that  this  diary  was  revised  for  publication  probably  several  years  after  the 
events  were  first  recorded,  although  he  is  undoubtedly  using  notes  actually 
made  at  the  time. 

'^  Nezi^-York  Mirror,  IV,  49,  June  30,  1827,  p.  [385]. 

"  Ibid. 

"  These  characters  have  been  identified  by  means  of  the  Catalogus 
U niversitatis  Brozvnensis,  MDCCCXX,  found  in  the  archive  room  of 
the  John  Hay  Library.  This  item  of  November  6,  [1818],  dated  just 
about  a  month  after  Fairfield's  entrance  into  college,  gives  a  startling 
instance  of  his  unerring  ability  for  seizing  upon  the  worst  traits  of 
humanitv. 


84  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

"Reverend  Calvin  Backgate",  was  obviously  Calvin  Park.^ 
From  1 804  to  1811  Calvin  Park  served  as  the  professor  of 
the  learned  languages/^  In  The  History  of  Brown  Uni- 
versity this  revealing  passage  occurs:  "The  professor  of 
moral  philosophy  and  metaphysics,  Calvin  Park,  seems  to 
have  confined  the  course  to  recitations  from  a  textbook  . .  ."^ 

In  1824  occurred  an  undergraduate  disturbance  which 
President  Messer  thought  was  owing  to  a  protest  against 
his  view  of  the  Deity  of  Christ.  The  students,  presenting 
their  side  of  the  case  in  an  anonymous  pamphlet,^^  assert 
that  the  instruction  given  to  the  junior  class  in  the  spring 
of  1824  was  inadequate  because  of  the  resignation  or  ab- 
sence of  certain  professors  apparently  antagonistic  to  the 
president's  religious  convictions.  The  concluding  sentence 
of  this  broadside,  with  a  punning  allusion  to  the  recent 
retirement  of  Professor  Calvin  Park,  follows:  "  'Though 
we  would  rather  see  the  Rev.  President  calvanistic  in  his 
religion,  than  in  the  abdication  of  his  office;  yet  we  hope, 
that,  for  the  honor  of  human  nature,  literature  and  religion, 
it  may  please  Heaven,  so  to  overrule  events,  that  soon  the 
tyrant  may  be  shaken  from  his  throne.'  "^' 

Fairfield  satirizes  Calvin  Park  as  "the  professor  of  belles- 
lettres  and  metaphysics;  but  he  professes  merely.""  He 
implores  Campbell,  Stuart,  Reid,  and  Locke  to  peep  into 
the  "stygian  darkness  of  Backgate's  [Calvin  Park's] 
soul,""  and  cry  aloud  in  their  agony.    But  he  hopes  "the 


^  Catalogus  Universitatis  Btozvnensis,  MDCCCXX,  1804,  "Calvinus 
Park,  A.M.,  Ling.  Lit."  and  "  1  8  1 1 ,  Phil.  Mor.  &  Metaph." 

"  The  History  of  Brown  University  by  Walter  C.  Bronson,  Providence, 
1914,  p.  159. 

^"^  Ibid.,^.  165. 

^^  This  pamphlet,  published  in  January  1826  in  New  Haven,  was 
entitled  A  True  and  Candid  Statement  of  Facts. 

^'~  The  History  of  Brown  University,  p.  1  89.  President  Messer  re- 
signed, September  23,   1826. 

^^  Nezv-York  Mirror,  IV,  49,  June  30,  1827,  p.  [385]. 

"  Ibid. 


PRESIDENT   MESSER  AND  BROWN  85 

Presbyterian  hue  of  his  face  [will]  preserve  the  igno- 
ramus"^" from  their  utter  wrath! 

The  only  person  on  the  blacklist  not  attacked  is  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Jasper,  "a  modest,  able,  unpretending  man, 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  what  he  professes  to  teach, 
and  a  favourite  with  all."^"  Fairfield's  "Mr.  Jasper"  was 
Jasper  Adams,^'  who  in  1818  served  as  tutor  at  Brown,  and 
"in  1819  .  .  .  was  made  professor  of  mathematics  and 
natural  philosophy,"  ^^  Adams,  "after  resigning  his  pro- 
fessorship in  Brown  University,  was  president  of  the  Col- 
lege of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and  of  Geneva  ( now 
Hobart)  College."^"  Perhaps  because  of  the  influence  of 
this  friend,  Fairfield  upon  leaving  college  went  directly  to 
the  South  and  taught  in  or  near  Charleston.  Supported  by 
the  evidence  of  Adams'  recorded  accomplishments,  the 
poet's  estimation  of  his  ability  and  character  can  not  have 
been  far  wrong. 

The  most  amusing  characterization  in  the  light  of  later 
knowledge  is  Fairfield's  description  of  Tutor  Mann,  "a  tall, 
elegant  gentleman,  who  atones  for  his  classical  defects  by 
the  suavity  of  his  manners  and  the  kindness  of  his  disposi- 
tion."'" This  person  was  no  other  than  the  famous  Horace 
Mann,  who  not  only  revolutionized  public  school  education 
in  this  country,'^  but  was  one  time  president  of  Antioch 


"  Ibid. 

^'^  The  "North  A?/ierican  Magazine,  V,  XXX,  April  183  5,  p.  377. 

^'  Catalogus  Universitatis  Brozcnenns,  MDCCCXX,  "1819,  Jasperus 
Adams,  A.M.,  Math,  et  Phil.  Nat."  Jasper  Adams  (1793-1841)  was 
graduated  from  Brown  in  1815;  taught  at  Phillips  Andover  xAcademy  for 
three  years;  ordained  priest  in  the  Episcopal  Church;  president  of 
Charleston  College  (1824-1836);  president  of  Geneva  (Hobart)  Col- 
lege, N.  Y. ;  chaplain  and  professor  of  geography,  history,  and  ethics  at 
the  U.  S.  Military  Academy,  West  Point  (1838-1840);  took  charge  of 
a  seminary  in  Pendleton,  S.  C.  (1  840).  He  published  Elements  oj  Moral 
Philosofhy  (1837).    Dictionary  oj  American  Biography,  I,  72. 

^**  The  History  oj  Brozcn  University,  p.   166. 

^''  Ibid.,  p.  201. 

^°  The  North  American  Magazine,  \,  XXX,  April  183  5,  p.  377. 


86  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

College.""  Horace  Mann,  it  will  be  remembered  "did  his 
greatest  work  as  secretary  of  the  Massachusetts  Board  of 
Education  from  1837  to  1848,  remodeling  the  school  sys- 
tem of  that  state,  and  thereby  profoundly  affecting  public- 
school  education  throughout  the  nation. "^^  Later  he  mar- 
ried the  youngest  daughter  of  Dr.  Asa  Messer."*  Ira  Moore 
Barton,  1819,  the  roommate  of  Horace  Mann  during  his 
last  two  years  in  college,  tells  us  of  his  chum's  attractive 
personality,  and  in  spite  of  Fairfield's  estimation  says:  "I 
never  heard  a  student  translate  the  Greek  and  Roman 
classics  with  greater  facility,  accuracy  and  elegance."'^ 

The  next  instructor  to  incur  the  displeasure  of  the  youth- 
ful Fairfield  is  "tutor  Rivulet",  probably  Aaron  Brooks,'*^ 
whom  the  sophomore  calls  "the  misnamed,  the  incom- 
parable.""' The  pun  becomes  obvious  when  it  is  learned 
that  Tutor  Rivulet  "has  just  left  the  recitation  room,  hav- 
ing dashed  Homer  on  the  floor,  and  plunged  headlong 
through  the  astonished  freshmen,  and  gone  down  three 
flights  of  stairs,  as  if  a  legion  of  demons  were  close  at  his 
heels.    O  Temper!    what  a  glorious  thing  thou  art! """ 

The  Reverend  Asa  Messer,  president 
of  Brown,  comes  in  for  the  lion's  share  of 
Fairfield's  vitriolic  abuse.  Cruelly  he 
begins,  "Messer  Asafoetida  Stockpole  is 
the  president  of  the  institution."'"  The 
childish  pun  on  "Messer"  needs  no  la- 
bored interpretation,  and  the  reference 
to  "Asafoetida"  is  self-explanatory.  A 
ASA  MESSER  1790  "stockpolc",  it  is  said,  was  an  instrument 
PRESIDENT  OF        used  for  ckaniiig  privies.""^   Then,  with - 

BROWN    UNIVERSITY       ^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^  ^^^^■_ 

cal  picture  of  the  gruff  president  who 

^^  TAe  History  of  Brozvn  University,  p.  201  ;  also,  Catalogus  Univer- 
sitatis  Brozvnens'is,  MDCCCXX,  "1820,  Horatius  Mann,  Tutor." 

^"  The  History  of  Brozvn  University,  p.  201. 

-^Il?id. 

-*  Brozvn  University  and  Manning,  Reuben  Aldridge  Guild,  Prov- 
idence, 1  897,  p.  45  5. 


S 


PRESIDENT   MESSER  AND  BROWN  87 

had  almost  smiled  at  him  a  month  earlier:  "He  is  a 
strong-built  man,  unequally  formed,  with  drum-stick  legs, 
broad  chest,  John-Bull  neck,  slouching  shoulders,  high 
cheek  bones,  little  gray  rabbit  eyes,  full-moon  face  and 
square  bald  head.  He  moves  like  an  automaton;  he  speaks 
like  a  growling  bear."'^^  Moreover,  the  president  mistakes 
roughness  for  discipline  and  haughtiness  for  dignity;  and 
excites  terror  instead  of  reverence  and  disgust  instead  of 
respect.  Always,  continues  Fairfield,  Dr.  Messer  travels 
sideways  into  chapel,  his  right  hand  habitually  spread  and 
fanning  the  air  like  an  elephant's  ear.  When  he  prays 
before  the  college  body,  his  voice  sounds  like  an  approach- 
ing storm,  his  shut  eyes  quiver,  and  his  wrinkled  cheek 
dilates  and  contracts.'*" 

The  rebellious  lad  is  not  content,  however,  merely  to 
enumerate  and  catalogue  the  president's  unpleasant  per- 

"^  Memories  of  Brozcn,  p.  42. 

-^Historical  Catalogue  of  Bro-:cn  Uniz'ersity  1764-1934,  "Aaron 
Brooks,  A.B.  1817,  A.M.,  Phi  Beta  Kappa,  Tutor  and  Librarian,  Brown 
University,  1819-21." 

"'  The  North  Afnerican  Magazine,  Y,  XXX,  April  183  5,  p.  377. 

^^  Ibid.  Fairfield  continues  to  rant.  "Bring  hither  Haylev's  'Triumphs 
of  Temper,'  [William  Hayley  (1745-1820),  at  one  time  the  friend  and 
helper  of  William  Blake,  published  The  Triumfhs  of  Temper  in  1781] 
for  never  did  mortal  temper  enjoy  such  triumphs!  Call  up  the  ghost  of 
Caliban,  but  dare  not  to  bring  the  wand  of  Prospero — it  would  be  shat- 
tered on  the  instant,  and  all  his  magical  authority  dissolved." 

'^  The  North  American  Magazine,  \\  XXX,  April  183  5,  p.  376. 
In  the  Nezc-York  Mirror,  IV,  49,  June  30,  1827,  p.  [385],  this  same 
passage  reads:  "The  Rev.  Asa-foetida  Stockpole,"  thus  emphasizing  the 
first  name  of  the  president.  Also  offered  in  evidence  is  the  statement  of 
Jane  Fairfield  in  The  Life  of  Sumner  Lincoln  Fairfield,  Esq.,  New  York, 
1847  (Other  editions  in  1846  and  1848)  p.  11:  "This  institution 
[Brown]  was  then  under  the  direction  of  President  Messer." 

^^  "Stockpole"  is  an  obsolete  word  ignored  in  the  dictionaries. 

^^  New-York  Mirror,  W ,  49,  June  30,  1827,  p.  [385]. 

^'  Ibid.  The  late  President  Sears  says  that  Messer  had  some  signal 
idiosyncrasies,  such  as  "a  swelling  of  the  cheeks  when  displeased,  accom- 
panied with  a  quick,  gruff  utterance."  The  History  of  Brozvn  Uni- 
versity, p.  193. 


88  RHODE   ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

sonal  characteristics.  He  strikes  deeper.  Unable  to  govern, 
cries  the  poet,  "he  cannot  but  tyrannize."  "^^  Although  his 
knowledge  is  small,  his  avarice  is  great,  and  through  this 
latter  failing  he  "is  led  like  a  pet  lamb  to  the  slaughter 
.  .  .  every  student,  who  knows  how  to  point  his  cue,  can 
govern  half  the  college.  Ungainly  in  person,  ungifted  in 
intellect,  without  dignity  of  appearance  or  grace  of  manner, 
he  occupies  the  presidential  chair  as  a  bear  would  occupy  a 
throne,  and  rules  a  college  as  a  swineherd  rules  his  drove. "^^ 

Fairfield  was  not  alone  in  his  dislike  for  the  president. 
Even  at  the  beginning  of  his  teaching  career,  Asa  Messer 
apparently  did  not  have  the  good  will  of  the  students. 
Rudolphus  H.  Williams,  writing  to  a  classmate  on  April  8, 
1789,  says:  "Mr.  Maxcy  [at  that  time  the  president  of 
Brown]  has  been  unwell  the  last  week  so  that  he  did  not 
attend  prayers  and  Messer  officiated  and  he  has  been  both 
hissed  and  clapt."^"  Even  the  late  Professor  Bronson,  the 
very  impartial  author  of  the  History  of  Brown  University ^ 


^^  Ibid.  In  The  History  of  Brozcn  Unirersify,  Asa  Messer  is  sev^eral 
times  mentioned  as  "tyrannical." 

^*  Nezv-York  Mirror,  IV,  49,  June  30,  1827,  p.  [385].  Professor 
E.  A.  Park,  one  of  Messer's  former  pupils,  records  in  The  History  of 
Brozvn  University,  p.  193,  that  "No  one  who  has  ever  seen  him  can 
forget  him.  His  individuality  was  made  unmistakable  by  his  physical 
frame.  This,  while  it  was  above  the  average  height,  was  also  in  breadth 
an  emblem  of  the  expansiveness  of  his  mental  capacity.  A  ^long  head' 
was  vulgarly  ascribed  to  him,  but  it  was  breadth  that  marked  his  forehead; 
there  was  an  expressive  breadth  in  his  maxillary  bones;  his  broad  shoulders 
were  a  sign  of  the  weight  which  he,  was  able  to  bear;  his  manner  of  walk- 
ing was  a  noticeable  symbol  of  the  reach  of  his  mind;  he  swung  his  cane 
far  and  wide  as  he  walked,  and  no  observer  would  doubt  that  he  was  an 
independent  man.'' 

^^  The  letter,  written  by  Williams  to  William  E.  Green,  clearly  illus- 
trates Messer's  unpopularity.  A  contention  arose  over  the  selection  of 
valedictorian,  salutatorian,  and  other  honorary  offices.  It  was  considered 
a  "damned  partial  distribution"  {Memories  of  Brozvn,  p.  28).  "We 
have  found  out",  says  Williams,  "that  Father  Messer  was  the  principal 
man  in  giving  out  the  parts  and  for  that  reason  he  is  treated  with  con- 
tempt by  the  students."    {Ibid.,  pp.  28-29). 


PRESIDENT   MESSER  AND  BROWN  89 

declares  that  intellectually  Messer  "was  characterized  by 
native  vigor  and  masculine  sense,  not  by  suppleness,  imag- 
ination, or  culture. "^'^  Nor  did  the  educator  in  his  old  age 
manage  to  capture  the  affections  of  his  fellow  men.  George 
William  Curtis,  an  honorary  alumnus  (1854)  of  Brown, 
has  this  to  say:  "Certainly  the  most  ancient  of  my  Brunonian 
recollections  is  that  of  the  spare  and,  to  my  boyish  eyes, 
queer  figure  of  ex-President  Messer,  who,  after  his  retire- 
ment from  the  presidency,  used  sometimes  to  preach  in  the 
pulpit  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  .  .  .  the  chief 
facts  that  have  lodged  in  my  memory  are  his  solemnity  of 
manner  and  his  knee  breeches  .  .  .  Even  in  his  later  years 
the  good  doctor  viewed  as  the  head  of  the  university  may 
be  still,  perhaps,  characterized  as  a  queer  person."'' 

Without  funds  and  with  few  friends,  Fairfield  after  two 
years  was  forced  to  leave  college.  In  the  last  entry  of  his 
Journal^  dated  September  20,  [1820],  he  says:  "I  must 
leave  my  education  unfinished  and  go  forth  upon  the  world 
to  do  the  work  of  a  man  at  seventeen  .  .  .  The  days  I  have 
passed  here  have  been  often  very  pleasant,  for  they  were 
full  of  employment  .  .  .  they  will  recur  to  my  memory  in 
other  years,  like  sweet  visions  that  have  gone  forever." ^^ 

It  is  comforting  to  know  that  in  spite  of  the  gruff  pres- 
ident, the  irate  tutor  Brooks,  and  other  faculty  members 
who  come  in  for  his  displeasure,  young  Fairfield  left  Brown 
University  and  Providence  with  sincere  regret  in  his  heart. 


^'^  Op.  cif.,  p.  193.  Bronson  continues:  "He  was  a  man  of  practical 
wisdom — a  judicious  farmer,  a  shrewei  man  of  business;  and  by  these 
qualities,  combined  with  thrift  and  economy,  he  got  together  a  snug 
fortune.  He  owned  a  farm  or  two  and  shares  in  a  cotton  factory,  and  his 
letters  show  that  he  looked  after  his  material  interests  very  keenly." 

^"  Memories  of  Brown,  pp.  70-71. 

^^The  North  A7?ierican  Magazine,  V,  XXX,  April    183  5,  p.    378. 

(An  account  of  the  newspaper  campaign  to  oust  President  Messer  and 
Nicholas  Brown's  choice  of  Francis  Wayland  for  president  will  appear  in 
an  early  issue. — Ed.) 


90  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 


The  Cabinet  of  the  Society 

The  Cabinet  of  the  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society  was 
originally  a  two-story  structure,  measuring  50  by  30  feet, 
designed  by  James  C.  Bucklin,  architect  of  the  Westminster 
St.  side  of  the  Arcade  (1828)  and  Manning  Hall,  Brown 
University  (1833).  It  was  built  (1844)  at  a  cost  of 
$5,260,  on  the  lot  at  68  Waterman  St.,  across  from  Brown 
University,  one  half  of  which  had  been  given  to  the  Society 
by  the  heirs  of  Nathan  Waterman  for  the  purpose.  Part 
of  the  money  was  raised  by  subscription,  but  $3,000  was 
the  proceeds  of  a  right  to  hold  a  lottery,  granted  by  the 
state  legislature  and  sold  by  the  Society  to  a  lottery  broker. 
This  transaction  brought  forth  the  following  letter  from 
President  Francis  Wayland  of  Brown  University. 

Providence  July   17,   1837 
Sir 

Having  been  informed  that  tlie  R.  I.  Historical  Society  is 
deriving  pecuniary  advantage  from  the  sale  of  lottery  tickets; 
and  having  serious  objections  to  participating  in  any  benefit 
derived  from  this  source  I  beg  leave  respectfully  to  request 
that  my  name  may  be  withdrawn  from  the  list  of  members 
of  the  Society. 

I  am 
The  Pres  of  the  Sir 

R.  I.  Hos.  Society  Very  Respectfully 

Your  Ob  t  Servant 
F.  Wayland 

5tx  JK  JK  ^K  ^J^ 

It  was  nearly  fifty  years  before  any  further  improve- 
ment was  made  in  the  building,  then  (1891)  two  three- 
story  wings,  each  50  by  22  feet  were  added  and  a  domed 
lecture  room  and  picture  gallery  30  feet  square  was  built 
at  the  rear  of  the  original  Cabinet  giving  the  building  the 
shape  of  a  squat  T.  The  plans  were  the  gift  of  Alfred 
Stone,  a  well-known  architect,  who  was  for  many  years 


THE   CABINET  OF  THE  SOCIETY  91 

deeply  interested  in  the  Society.  About  $20,000  was  con- 
tributed for  the  construction. 

The  outer  walls  of  1  844  were  ruggedly  built  of  rubble, 
covered  with  plaster,  though  the  floor  framing  is  of  wood 
(an  interesting  feature  being  the  main  girder  which  is 
one  piece  of  oak  48  feet  long  and  14  inches  square).  The 
same  outer  wall  construction  was  used  in  1891,  the  par- 
titions being  of  brick;  the  main  floor  was  of  wood  laid  on 
brick  arches. 

In  1913  members  contributed  $8,000  to  make  the  west 
wing  fire-proof  and  a  vault  was  built  on  the  first  floor  for 
manuscripts,  books,  newspapers  prior  to  1800.  The  collec- 
tion of  Directories,  Tax  books,  Rhode  Island  Imprints,  and 
works  of  Rhode  Island  Authors  —  about  15,000  volumes 
—  were  placed  in  the  Rhode  Island  Room  on  the  first  floor, 
and  the  upper  stories  housed  the  collection  of  newspapers, 
which  has  been  described  as  "the  best  collection  of  any  single 
state's  newspapers  in  any  one  library,"  from  1758  through 
this  morning's  editions. 

In  1941  about  $4,000  was  subscribed  for  a  long  needed 
renovation  program,  which  is  now  under  way.  The  heat- 
ing arrangements  have  been  modernized,  the  roof  repaired, 
and  the  basement  equipped  for  work  space  and  storage.  A 
new  lighting  system  is  now  being  installed  and  painting  of 
the  rooms  on  the  ground  floor  is  progressing. 

Upon  completion  of  the  renovation  program  it  is  pro- 
posed to  revise  and  improve  the  catalogue  of  the  books 
and  manuscripts,  classifying  them  by  subjects  as  well  as 
by  authors.  This  work  will  be  done  by  the  W.P.A.,  under 
the  supervision  of  an  experienced  cataloguer  employed  by 
the  Society,  for  which  the  money  is  yet  to  be  raised. 

The  increase  of  263  members  or  63%,  since  November 
1,  1940,  encourages  the  officers  to  hope  that  the  Society 
may  be  increasingly  useful  to  the  members  and  all  the 
people  of  Rhode  Island.  —  W.  G.  R. 


92  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

Book  Reviews 

Mill  Stream 

By  Hortense  Lion 

(Boston:  Houghton  Mifflin  Co.,  1941.    Pp.  391.    $2.50) 

Mill  Stream  is  the  story  of  the  birth  of  manufacturing  in  this  State 
and  as  such  is  concerned  with  Providence  and  the  lower  Blackstone  Valley 
in  the  years  between  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War  and  the  passage 
of  the  first  protective  tariff  in  1816.  The  core  of  the  story  is,  of  course, 
the  trials  and  final  success  of  Samuel  Slater's  experiment  in  spinning  by 
water  power. 

For  purposes  of  her  novel,  however,  the  author  has  had  to  modify  the 
actual  historical  background,  retaining  Slater  as  a  more  or  less  secondary 
character  and  transforming  Moses  Brown,  the  capitalist  of  the  venture 
in  fact,  into  a  purely  fictional  character  named  Jared  Greene.  The  onlv 
resemblance  between  Greene  and  his  real  counterpart  is  that  thcv  both 
financed  Slater  and  that  they  both  turned  from  commerce  to  industry. 
Otherwise  there  is  no  attempt  to  delineate  Greene  in  the  likeness  of  the 
great  Quaker  merchant  of  Providence. 

The  novel's  hero  is  Bradlev  Taylor,  a  young  farmer  from  the  vicinity 
of  Pawtucket  who  tries  to  turn  his  fulling-mill  at  Pawtucket  Falls  into  a 
power-spinning  plant  before  Slater  arrives  on  the  scene.  Taylor,  being 
an  entirely  imaginative  character,  can  be  handled  arbitrarily  by  the 
author.  Although  he  is  made  a  partner  of  Slater,  the  author  is  able  to 
put  him  into  situations  in  which  the  use  of  a  strictly  factual  figure 
would  be  barred. 

Thus,  although  Slater  of  the  novel  marries  Hannah  Wilkinson,  as  the 
real-life  Slater  did,  Taylor's  loves  and  life  are  fair  game  for  the  novelist. 
The  plot  thus  propounded  becomes  the  secondary  theme  of  this  book; 
Brad  Taylor's  first  love,  Gail  Schofield,  weds  the  villainous  Fowler  Craw- 
ford, an  ofF-islander  who  never  does  get  to  understand  the  business  ethics 
of  Providence,  while  Taylor  turns  to  Nancy  Greene,  Jared's  niece  and 
ward.  He  marries  her  and  in  time  achieves  a  sort  of  love  for  her,  although 
it  might  be  called  more  exactly  a  sense  of  appreciation.  Gail,  however, 
remains  first  in  Taylor's  heart,  Miss  Lion  contends. 

Now,  handling  such  characters,  in  such  situations,  and  against  such  a 
background  as  Providence  in  the  post-Revolutionary  days,  ought  to  make 
for  a  good  historical  novel. 

I  am  sorrv'  to  have  to  report,  therefore,  that  in  my  opinion  Mill  Stream 
is  neither  good  historically  nor  as  a  novel. 

To  point  out  faultv  historical  background  which  is  so  obvious  is  hardly 
worth  while.  Yet,  just  to  support  the  charge,  let  it  be  said  that  careful 
study  would  have  eliminated  such  errors  as  saying  that  houses  on  the 
Towne  street  faced  east  toward  the  sea,  or  that  an  incoming  vessel  off 


MILL  STREAM  93 

Beavertail  could  be  sighted  from  Providence,  or  even,  granting  that  it 
might  have  been,  that  she  would  be  approaching  a  Providence  wharf  less 
than  an  hour  later.  There  are  other  similar  errors,  trivial,  it  is  true,  but 
they  grate  badly  on  the  consciousness  of  a  reader  familiar  with  Providence 
geography,  to  say  nothing  of  its  history  and  customs.  Even  the  end- 
paper maps  contain  a  bad  error:  the  Moshassuck  River  is  labelled  "Black- 
stone  River."  The  map  distorts  rather  badly  the  Anthony  Survey  Map 
of    1803. 

But  all  this  would  be  only  picayune  and  carping  criticism  were  the 
book  a  powerful,  moving,  and  workmanlike  job  of  novel-writing.  Who 
would  care  about  a  few  historical  details  if  the  story  proved  gripping, 
the  narrative  absorbing,  and  the  theme  inspiring?  I  hope  I  would  be  the 
first  to  praise  this  book  were  that  the  case. 

The  facts  of  the  matter  are,  however,  that  no  character  in  the  book 
really  comes  to  life  on  its  pages,  that  the  plots  and  sub-plots  merely  drift, 
that  the  author  seems  to  have  no  control  over  her  characters — not  because 
they  are  motivated  by  their  own  inner  weakness  or  strength,  which  would 
be  the  hall-mark  of  any  great  fictional  writing,  but  because  even  the 
author  doesn't  seem  to  understand  them  or  what  makes  them  tick. 

Providence  Bradford  Fuller  Swan 

Henry  W.  Longfellow  and  Montecassino 

By  Reverend  Sabatino  lannetta 

(Providence:  \'isitor  Printing  Press.    1941  Pp.  136.    $1.00.) 

It  is  gratifying  to  find  that  an  adequate  Italian  translation  has  at  last 
been  made  of  a  poem  called  "Monte  Cassino"  which  was  written  on 
October  30,  187+,  by  my  grandfather,  Henrv  Wadsworth  Longfellow, 
about  the  famous  Benedictine  Monastery  which  he  had  visited  in  Italv. 

It  is  particularly  delightful  to  record  that  this  translation  has  been  made 
by  an  American  of  Italian  descent.  Father  Sabatino  lannetta,  who  was 
born  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  but  was  sent  at  the  age  of  ten  by  his 
parents  to  study  at  Monte  Cassino,  where  he  later  became  Vice  Rector 
of  the  Monastery.  He  has  now  returned  to  Rhode  Island  and  is  stationed 
at  Saint  Ann's  Church  in  North  Providence  and  has  published  in  English 
a  book  entitled  "Henry  W.  Longfellow  and  Montecassino,"  in  which  he 
includes  on  opposite  pages  Longfellow's  English  text  with  its  alter- 
nating rhymes  and  his  own  Italian  translation  in  blank  verse,  giving  us 
line  for  line  a  very  literal  translation  of  the  original.  In  not  attempting  to 
preserve  the  original  rhyme  scheme,  but  rather  to  preserve  the  order  or 
words  of  the  text  he  was  translating,  he  has  used  much  the  method  which 
Mr.  Longfellow  himself  had  used  in  translating  Dante's  Divine  Comedy 
from  Italian  into  English. 

In  addition  to  this  translation,  however,  Father  lannetta's  book  gives 


94  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

US  much  else.  It  begins  with  an  introduction  by  the  Reverend  Paul  C. 
Perrotta,  O.P.  of  Providence  College,  Rhode  Island.  It  includes  an 
account  of  Longfellow's  visit  to  the  Monastery  in  Monte  Cassino,  based 
on  hitherto  unpublished  journals,  some  literary  and  historical  comment 
by  Father  lannetta  on  the  famous  Monastery,  and  an  account  of  Boccaccio's 
none-too-reverend  visit  there  in  the  14th  Century. 

For  good  measure  Father  lannetta  throws  in  an  additional  chapter  on 
"Longfellow's  Rhode  Island  Friendship,"  an  account  of  the  life-long 
friendship  between  Henry  Wadsworth  Longfellow  and  his  first  com- 
panion in  Italy,  George  Washington  Greene,  who  later  lived  in  the 
famous  Windmill  Cottage,  which  Longfellow  helped  him  put  together 
in  East  Greenwich,  Rhode  Island. 

It  is  pleasing  to  know  that  Father  Sabatino  lannetta,  in  addition  to  this 
book  on  Longfellow  and  Montecassino  is  planning  to  publish  similar 
translations  and  comments  of  other  Longfellow  poems  dealing  with  Italy, 
such  as  "Amalfi"  and  "Cadenabbia." 

Cambridge  Henry  Wadsworth  Longfellow  Dana 

In  1939  Father  lannetta  published  a  delightful  book  in  Italian  verses  and  with 
amusing  illustrations,  called  L'Asino,  giving  a  defense  of  the  humble  donkey,  that 
had  been  so  unjustly  treated  by  so  many  writers  of  the  past.  L'Asino.  By  Rev.  Sabatino 
lannetta.   (Rome,  Tipografia  Operaia  Romana.   1939.  Pp.  71.) 

NOTE 

George  Richardson,  Pewterer 
by  Dr.  Madelaine  R.  Brown 

"Died:  On  the  14th  inst.  George  Richardson,  Esq.,  a  native 
of  London,  England,  aged  66  years. 

"Mr.  Richardson  started  the  first  teapot  manufactory  in  the 
United  States  at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  has  engaged  in  the 
business  until  his  decease.  His  funeral  will  take  place  at  his  late 
residence.  No.  27  Knight  Street  [Providence],  tomorrow, 
Sunday  at  1  o'clock.  Boston  papers  please  copy".^ 

With  this  quotation  from  the  Refublican  Herald  of  Providence,  July 
1  5,  1  848,  Mr.  West  in  his  article  in  Antiques,  October,  1940,  has  solved 
the  mystery  of  the  britannia  ware  marked  "G.  Richardson,  Glennore  Co., 
Cranston,  R.  I."  and  "G.  Richardson,  Boston."  For  many  years  collectors 
of  American  pewter  have  searched  Cranston  records  in  vain  for  any  men- 
tion of  this  manufacturer.  Boston  records  yielded  more  information  and 
Laura  Woodside  Watkins  has  summarized  her  own  and  her  father's  col- 
lected information  in  Antiques,  1937.^  Pictured  is  his  house  on  Oliver 
Street  and  his  advertisement  as  a  maker  of  block  tin  teapots,  1821.  After 
1828  only  one  record,  that  of  the  tombstone,  was  found  in  Boston,  and 


GEORGE  RICHARDSON,   PEWTERER  95 

Mrs.  Watkins  and  Mr.  Woodside  buried  him  at  the  age  of  83  in  Copps 
Hill  burying  ground,  1830.  Since  the  Cranston  pewter  was  of  a  later 
type  than  that  made  in  Boston,  an  awkward  situation  resulted.  In  1939 
my  note  on  the  Cranston  factory  appeared  in  this  quarterly  stating  that 
the  Cranston  pewter  could  not  have  been  made  before  his  Boston  dates, 
1818-1828.^  Later  the  Providence  trade  journals  from  1840-1850  were 
searched  but  no  mention  of  Richardson,  the  Glennore  Company  or  the 
Providence  Britannia  Ware  Company  was  found. 

Mr.  West,  however,  has  resurrected  him  and  proved  by  census  records 
and  directories  1800-1828  that  the  George  Richardson  buried  in  Boston 
was  another,  a  wheelwright  by  profession.  The  first  mention  of  George 
Richardson  in  Cranston  found  by  Mr.  West  was  that  of  the  1840  census, 
stating  that  he  had  five  sons  and  six  daughters  and  that  three  of  the 
family  were  engaged  in  manufacturing.  He  does  not  appear  again  in 
the  Cranston  census,  but  the  Providence  directory  1  847-48  gives 

George  Richardson,  Agent  Providence  Britannia  Co.,  207  High 

George  B.  Richardson  Britannia  ware,  207  High,  28  Knight  St. 

Francis  B.  Richardson  Britannia  ware,  207  High,  8  Conduit  St. 

The  1850  census  of  Providence  gives  the  two  sons  born  in  Massachusetts 
as  britannia  ware  manufacturers.  George  B.  was  continually  mentioned  as 
a  britannia  ware  manufacturer  except  in  the  last  few  years  before  his  death 
in  1  890  ■*  when  he  was  mentioned  as  a  japanner  of  metal.  Francis  moved 
to  Boston  shortlv  after  1850  and  appears  for  many  years  as  a  britannia 
ware  manufacturer. 

The  first  George  Richardson  probably  arrived  in  this  country  shortly 
before  1818  and  went  into  partnership  with  Samuel  Greene  of  Boston. 
Trained  in  London  he  made  hollow  ware  and  started  the  first  block  tin 
teapot  manufactory  in  this  country,  while  Greene,  a  much  older  man, 
made  only  flat  ware.  The  partnership  lasted  only  four  years,  but  Richard- 
son is  listed  in  Boston  as  a  pewterer  until  1828.  His  whereabouts  from  this 
date  until  he  appears  in  the  Cranston  census  of  1  840  is  unknown. 

Out  of  patience  with  pewter  collecters  in  general  and  goaded  into 
activity  in  particular  by  the  admission  of  ignorance  in  my  note,  Mr.  West 
started  work  in  the  libraries  of  Washington,  D.  C.  Without  leaving  that 
city  he  has  outlined  a  life  history  starting  in  London,  crossing  the  Atlantic 
to  Boston  and  ending  in  Cranston,  Rhode  Island.  Far  better  were  this 
note  entitled  not  "George  Richaidson,  Pewterer,"  but  "Edward  West, 
Genealogist." 

^  West,  Edward  H.:  George  Richardson,  Pewterer,  ^k/Z^z/s^  38  :176  (October)  1940. 

"Watkins,  Laura  W. :  George  Richardson,  Pewterer,  Antiques  31 :194  (April)  1937. 

^  Brown,  Madelaine  R. :  G.  Richardson,  Cranston  Pewterer,  Rhode  Island  Hist. 
Soc.  Collections  32:1    (January)    1939. 

•*  September  29,  1890,  Providence  City  Directory  1891.  The  Rhode  Island  His- 
torical Society  has  a  very  complete  collection  of  Directories  and  Tax  Books  of  all  the 
cities  and  towns  of  the  State.  They  are  invaluable  in  research  like  the  above.  — Ed. 


96  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


A  Partial  List  of  Accessions 

Manuscripts:  gifts 

Gladding  Pafers,  including  the  Log  of  the  Brig  Hermes  (1796),  the 
Sloop  Puritan  (1804)  and  Brig  New  England  (1839-40),  Account 
books  of  the  Tillinghast,  Gladding  and  Chandler  families,  School 
hills,  etc.,  given  in  memory  of  Mary  T.  Gladding,  by  Mrs.  Donald 
S.  Babcock. 

'■^Shefherd  Tom"  Hazard  Pafers,  from  the  estate  of  Barclay  Hazard. 

Letter  (1777)  to  his  brother  from  Deacon  Richard  Hale,  on  the  occasion 
of  his  son  Nathan's  execution.    Gift  of  Mrs.  George  M.  Thornton. 

Log  of  the  Schooner  Alfheus  and  Nancy  (1815-17).  Gift  of  Mr.  Paul 
C.  Nicholson. 

Genealogy: 

John  Budlong.    MS.  Gift  of  Mr.  Edward  A.  Stockwell. 

Catalogue  of  American  Genealogies  in  the  Long  Island  Historical  Society 

(New  York,  1939),  Emma  Toedteberg.    By  exchange. 
Lafhams  of  Rhode  Island  compiled  by  Frank  T,  Calef,  M.D.    Gift  of 

the  author. 
Mower  family  History  (1923),  Walter  L.  Mower,  Seat'erns  Ge?tealogi- 

cal  History    (Chicago,    1898),   Rev.   John   F.   Severance.    Gift   of 

Frank  E.  Waterman. 
Rand-Hale-Strong  and  Allied  Families  (New  York  ,1940),  Nettie  Hale 

Rand.    Gift  of  the  author. 
Records  from  North  Burial  Ground,  Providence,  R.  /.,  Wills  and  Inven- 
tories, Wairen,  R.  I.,  Cemetery  Records  of  Lincoln,  R.  I.,  copied 

and  presented  by  Frank  T.  Calef,  M.D. 
The  Stevens  Family  (Windsor,  1941),  Edwin  H.  Stevens.   Gift  of  James 

H.  Arthur. 

Rhode  Island  Authors:  gifts 

Henry   W.   Longfellow   and   Montecassino    (Providence,    1941),   Rev. 

Sabatlno  lannetta.    Gift  of  the  author. 
The  Hills  of  Matunuck  (1941),  Carder  H.  Whaley.   Gift  of  the  author. 
Occasional  Discourses  (Boston,  1838),  Francis  Wayland.    By  exchange. 
Pre  fare  for  Peace  (New  York,  1941),  Henry  M.  Wriston.    Gift  of  the 

author. 
Somewhat  of  a  Hero  (New  York,  1941),  I.  J.  Kapstein.    Gift  of  the 

author. 


A    PARTIAL    LIST   OF   ACCESSIONS 

Rhode  Island  Imprints: 

Two  Editions  of  a   Bible  History    (Providence,    1832).    Gift  of   Mrs. 
Henry  W.  Cooke. 

A   Boy's  Will  (Providence,   n.d.),  Charles   H.   Robinson.     Gift  of  the 
author. 

Proz'itJence  Juvenile  Gazette  (Providence,  1  827-28).   Gift  of  Miss  Lvdia 
Chace. 

Under  the  Trade  Winds  (Providence,   1898),  Alfred  M.  Williams,  by 
exchange. 

Dr.  Watt's  Diz'i^ie  Songs,  for  the  use  of  children  (Providence,   1823). 
Gift  of  Donald  S.  Babcock. 


General:  gifts 

American  Imprints  Inz'entory  (1941)  compiled  and  presented  bv  the 
W.  P.  A. 

Early  History  of  Sujfolk  County,  New  York  (Long  Island,  1868),  Hon. 
Henry  Nicholl.    By  exchange. 

Encyclopedic  Dictionary  of  A??terican  Reference  (Boston,  1901),  J. 
Franklin  Jameson.    By  exchange. 

History  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  2  Volumes  (Phila- 
delphia, 1940),  Hampton  L.  Carson.    Gift  of  the  Society. 

Memoir  of  Bishop  Seabury  (New  York,  1908),  S.  J.  Seabury.  Gift  of 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  A.  Cummings. 

Scrap  Book  of  Rhode  Island  Bicycle  Club,  1888-1928,  Photographs  of 
High  Wheel  Bicycles,    1877,' gifts  of  Mr.  George   R.   McAuslan. 

Three  Scrap  Books  of  Howard  M.  Chapin,  gift  of  late  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Charles  V.  Chapin. 

PURCHASES 

Anne  Hutchinson  Papers.  (1929),  A  Westchester  Fai'mer  [Samuel  Sea- 
bury],   (1930).    Westchester  County  Historical  Society. 

Colonial  Period  of  Aynerican  History  (New  Haven,  1938)  \'^ols.  II,  IV, 
C.  M.  Andrews. 

Delazcare  Loyalists  (Delaware  1940),  Harold  B.  Hincock.  Delaware 
Historical  Society. 

General  Index  to  the  New  England  Quarterly  Volumes  I  -  X  ( 1  928-37). 

Naval  Documents  related  to  Quasis-]f\ir  betzveen  the  United  States  and 

France  published  under  the  supervision  of  the  Secretary  of  Navv 

(1940). 


RHODE   ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


T^OLLOWING  the  adoption  of  the  amendments  to 
the  By-Laws  providing  for  Sustaining  members,  An- 
nual Tax,  $25.00,  and  Contributing  members.  Annual 
Tax,  $10,00,  the  following  additions  and  changes  have 
taken  place: 

SUSTAINING 

*Mrs.  C.  Oliver  Iselin 
*Mr.  G.  Pierce  Metcalf 
*Mr.  William  Davis  Miller 
*Miss  Mary  H.  Parsons 
Mr.  Norman  B.  Smith 
*Hon.  Charles  F.  Stearns 


*Miss  Lucy  T.  Aldrich 
*Mr.  John  Nicholas  Brown 

Mrs.  Robert  P.  Brown 
*Mr.  Robert  T.  Downs 
*Mr.  Hovey  T.  Freeman 
*Miss  Caroline  Hazard 


*Mr.  Stuart  M.  Aldrich 
*Mr.  Claude  R.  Branch 
*Madelaine  R.  Brown,  M.D. 
*Mr.  Harris  H.  Bucklin 

Mr.  William  S.  Cherry,  Jr. 
*Mr.  Frank  H.  Cranston 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Eastwood 
*Mr.  S.  Foster  Hunt 
*Mr.  Maxwell  C.  Huntoon 


CONTRIBUTING 

Mr.  Horace  E.  Knowles 
Mr.  Daniel  H.  Morrissey 
*Hon.  Addison  P.  Munroe 
*Mr.  Albert  H.  Poland 
*Hon.  Elmer  J.  Rathbun 
Mr.  Achille  Sammartino 
*Mr.  Walter  B.  Smith 
*Mr.  F.  L.  Titsworth 
*Co].  B\Ton  S.  Watson 


*  Transferred  from  Active  membership. 


NEW  ACTIVE   MEMBERS  SINCE 

Mr.  John  G.  Aldrich 
Mrs.'M.  L.  D.  Aldrich 
Mr.  Clarence  F.  Allen 
Mrs.  John  O.  Ames 
Mrs.  Colt  Anthony 
Mr.  Leonard  Bacon 
Mrs.  Curtis  B.  Brooks 
Mrs.  Hope  Shippee  Bunin 
Mr.  Fletcher  P.  Burton 
Mr.  Augustus  W.  Calder,  Jr. 
Miss  Elizabeth  T.  Casey 
Mr.  Westcott'H.  Chesebrough 
Mr.  B.  Aristide  Cianfarani 
Mr.  Roger  T.  Clapp 
Mrs.  Henry  W.  Cooke 
Mrs.  Edward  D.  Curtis 
Mr.  Henry  C.  Hart 
Mr.  Joseph  C.  Hartwell 
Mr.  Charles  R.  Haslam 
Mrs.  Amos  W.  Hazard 
Ernest  L.  Lockwood,  D.S. 
Mr.  William  MacLelland 
Luigi  Maiello,  M.D. 
Mrs.  C.  Salisbury  Makepeace 


MARCH    1  7th,    1941 

Mr.  Francis  I.  McCanna 
Mrs.  Reune  Martin 
Hon.  William  W.  Moss 
Mr.  R.  Lindley  Murray 
Mr.  Arthur  F.  Munro 
Mr.  Guillaume  Myette 
Mr.  Fred  A.  Otis  ' 
Wilfred  Pickles,  M.D. 
Herman  C.  Pitts,  M.D. 
Mrs.  James  Richardson 
Francesco  Ronchesc,  M.D. 
Mr.  Melvin  E.  Sawin 
Mr.  Luigi  Scala 
Mrs.  Nathaniel  W.  Smith 
Mr.  Edward  S.  Spicer 
Mrs.  Benjamin  R.  Sturges 
Mrs.  Robert  W.  Taft 
Mr.  Robert  L.  Turnbull 
Mr.  Achille  Vervena 
Mrs.  George  B.  Waterhouse 
Mrs.  Harriett  W.  Weeden 
Mr.  Carder  H.  Whaley 
Col.  Alonzo  R.  Williams 
Elihu  S.  Wing,  M.D. 


.30440 

Rhode    Island 

Historical     Society 

Collections 


Vol.  XXXIV 


OCTOBER,   1941 


No.  4 


THE  FIRST  OFFICE  OF  THE  PROVIDENCE  BANK 
IN    TWO   ROOMS   ON   THE   SECOND   FI.OOR   OF   THIS    HOUSE   ON    THE 
SOUTH    SIDE    OF    HOPKINS   STREET,    THE    PROVIDENCE    R.ANK    WAS 
ESTABLISHED,     OCTOBER     3,      1791.      UNTIL     REMOVAL     OF    THE 
BANK    (1801)    THE   STREET  WAS   CALLED   BANK   L.\NE. 


Issued  Quarterly 


68  Waterman  Street,  Providence,  Rhode  Island 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


PAGE 


The  First  Office  of  the  Providence  Bank       .  .  .     Cover 


South  County's  Consul  to  Sweden 

by  Paul  Francis  Glccson         ......  97 

The  Invaluable  Axe 

by  George  Benvle  .  .  .  .  .  .  .103 


John  Brown's  Mansion  House  on  the  Hill 

bv  Harrison  Southwick  Taft   .  .  .  .  .  .107 


The  Founding  of  the  Providence  Bank 

Comf'tled  by  Hope  F.  Kane  and  W.  G.  Roelkcr  .  .         113 

Doctoral  and  Masters'  Theses  relating  to  Rhode  Island 

C 0771  piled  by  Hope  F.  Kane    .  .  .  .  .  .128 


John  Brown  House  (I llustratio7t)  .....       Back 

Cover 


RHODE 
HISTORICAL 


ISLAND 

SOCIETY 


COLLECTIONS 


Vol.  XXXIV  OCTOBER,  1941 


No.  4 


Charles  F.  Stearns,  President  Robert  T.  Downs,  Treasurer 

William  Davis  Miller,  Secretary        William  G.  Roelker,  Librarian 


The  Society  assumes  no  responsibility  for  the  statements  or  the  opinions 
of  contributors. 


South  County's  Consul  to  Sweden 

by  Paul  Francis  Gleeson* 

A  cenotaph  to  Robert  Champlin  Gardiner  is  to  be  found 
in  the  original  graveyard  of  the  Narragansett  Church  at 
the  Platform  near  Congdon  Hill  in  North  Kingstown.  He 
was  the  second  United  States  Consul  at  Sweden. 

This  slate  stone  in  an  historic  Rhode  Island  cemetery  is 
the  sole  reminder  in  the  twentieth  century  of  an  incident 
which  connected  the  Sweden  of  Gustav  IV  and  the  America 
of  Jefferson,  and  is  also  involved  with  a  beautiful  girl  who 
attended  a  dinner  party  escorted  by  a  fashionable  gallant  — 
the  entire  affair  capped  dramatically  with  death  and  des- 
truction on  the  high  seas. 

Robert  Champlin  Gardiner,  the  son  of  Colonel  John 
Gardiner  and  his  wife  Sarah,  was  born  in  South  Kingstown 
during  the  year  1773.  His  father  who  has  been  described 
as  "an  accomplished  gentleman  of  the  old  school  and  of 

*Paul  Francis  Gleeson,  A.B.  (Brown)   1932,  M.A.  (Brown)   1939,  is  a  teacher  of 
history  at  the  Classical  High  School,  Providence. 


98  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

popular  manners"^  possessed  large  estates  both  at  Boston 
Neck  and  at  Westerly.  Colonel  Gardiner  was  the  uncle  of 
Hannah  Robinson,  and  it  was  he  who  arranged  and  chap- 
eroned, from  behind  some  shrubbery,  the  secret  meetings 
of  that  unfortunate  young  lady  and  her  lover,  Peter  Simons 
of  Newport. 

The  Colonel  was  also  active  in  the  civic  and  religious 
affairs  of  Narragansett.  He  was  an  influential  member  of 
the  Narragansett  Church,  and  served  for  a  number  of  years 
as  warden.  During  the  Revolution  he  was  a  most  active 
Whig,  and  in  1  776  was  elected  captain  of  the  Independent 
Company  called  the  "Kingstown  Reds."  Later  in  1786-87 
he  was  elected  to  the  General  Assembly  from  South  Kings- 
town by  the  Paper  Money  Party,  and  in  1788  and  1789  to 
the  Congress  of  the  Confederation  by  the  popular  vote  of 
the  state  but  did  not  take  his  seat. 

In  view  of  these  instances  it  is  clear  that  Colonel  John 
Gardiner  might  well  have  occupied  an  influential  position 
in  the  newly  formed  Republican  Party,"  the  descendant  of 
the  Paper-Money  Party  and  other  anti-Federalist  groups. 
The  power  of  the  latter  had  grown  steadily  in  Rhode  Island, 
and  it  was  most  active  in  the  presidential  election  of  1800, 
the  first  in  this  state  in  which  appeared  two  national  political 
parties.  There  was  much  excitement  and  bitterness  at  this 
time  —  the  Federalist  papers  here  claiming  that  Jefferson 
was  working  to  forward  the  interests  of  France  at  the  ex- 
pense of  those  of  the  United  States,  and  also  that  he  was 
an  infidel.  On  the  other  hand,  the  same  papers  upheld 
John  Adams  as  a  paragon  of  ability  and  character.  There 
was  much  Republican  sentiment,  however,  throughout  the 
state  and  it  was  observed  at  the  time  that,  "the  eventual 
triumph  of  the  Federal  ticket  was  wholly  owing  to  the 

^  Wilkins  Updike,  A  History  of  the  Efiscofal  Church  in  'Narragansett, 
Rhode  Island  (Boston,  1907),  2nd  edition,  II,  105. 

"  Throughout  this  article  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  Republican 
Party  of  1800  is  the  ancestor  of  the  present  Democratic  Party  and  has  no 
connection  with  the  modern  Republican  Party. 


SOUTH    county's   CONSUL  TO   SWEDEN  99 

unprecedented  exertion  of  Providence."^  The  southern 
part  of  the  state,  including  Newport  but  exclusive  of  West- 
erly and  Hopkinton,  gave  a  clear  majority  for  Jefferson/ 

In  return  for  this  showing  and  for  other  possible  serv- 
ices rendered  Jefferson,  it  may  be  assumed  that  Colonel 
Gardiner  was  able  to  secure  from  the  President  for  his  son 
the  appointment  as  American  Consul  at  Goteborg,  Sweden. 
Robert  Champlin  Gardiner  was  appointed  to  this  post  on 
May  3,  1802,  and  succeeded  the  first  consul  who  had  been 
named  to  the  office  in  1797.^ 

Newport  merchants  with  whom  Gardiner  was  undoubt- 
edly connected  had  early  evinced  an  interest  in  the  possibil- 
ities of  trade  with  Sweden.  As  early  as  June  1 770,  the  sloop 
Dolphin  under  the  command  of  Captain  Nathaniel  Ham- 
mond was  sent  to  Goteborg  "to  make  a  tryal  if  an  advan- 
tagious  Trade  may  be  carried  on  from  hence  there."''  It  is 
not  known  whether  the  Dolphmy  which  was  probably  owned 
by  S.  and  W.  Vernon,  made  the  first  voyage  from  Newport 
in  the  Swedish  trade.  However,  it  must  have  been  one  of 
the  earliest  ventures  in  this  direction.  The  trade  with 
Sweden  prospered  and  during  the  next  thirty  years  a  num- 
ber of  Rhode  Island  firms,  among  them  Samuel  Fowler 
&  Son,  and  Hunter,  Gibbs  &  Champlin,  were  engaged  in  it, 
exchanging  various  West  Indian  products  as  well  as  Amer- 

"  William  A.  Robinson,  Jejfersonian  Democracy  in  t\  ezv  England  (New 
Haven,  1916),  p.  3  5,  n.  80.  (This  volume  contains,  unfortunately,  only  a 
very  sketchy  account  of  the  rise  of  Republicanism  in  Rhode  Island.) 

■*  The  Providence  Gazette,  November  29,  1800  contains  the  vote  by 
towns  in  the  presidential  election  of  1800.  Field  in  his  ^tate  of  Rhode 
Island  and  Providence  Plantations  (Boston,  1902),  I,  287-288,  gives  a 
brief  account  of  this  election  which  contains  only  the  results  from  Provi- 
dence and  Newport.  Some  interesting  letters  concerning  this  election  and 
Governor  Fenner's  account  of  his  interviews  with  General  Hamilton  and 
President  Adams  are  to  be  found  in  George  C.  Mason,  Reminiscences  of 
Nezi'port  (Newport,  1884),  p.  108  ff. 

^Contained  in  a  letter  (1939)  to  the  writer  from  the  Division  of 
Research  and  Publications,  Department  of  State. 

^  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  [Collections,  Seventh  Series,  Vol. 
IX]  Commerce  of  Rhode  Island  (Boston,  1914),  I,  332. 


100  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

lean  tobacco,  rice,  indigo  and  rum  for  Swedish  iron  and 
Russian  duck  —  the  latter  a  species  of  flax  fabric  lighter 
and  finer  than  canvas  and  used  for  pleasure  sails  and  for 
sailor's  outergarments.  The  Americans  also  purchased  var- 
ious kinds  of  tea  —  Bohea,  Hyson  and  Suchong  —  which 
had  arrived  in  the  Swedish  markets  from  China. 

It  is  more  than  probable  that  the  new  consul,  in  addition 
to  his  official  duties,  acted  as  an  American  merchant  in 
Sweden,  a  practice  common  in  those  early  days.  After  about 
a  year's  service,  however,  Gardiner  found  it  necessary  to  re- 
turn to  New  England.  In  writing  to  David  Airth,  whom 
he  had  appointed  to  act  as  American  Vice-Consul  during  his 
absence,  the  Consul  remarked  that  he  was  compelled  to 
journey  to  "America  and  the  West  Indies  in  order  to  obtain 
a  Settlement  of  some  Business  which  cannot  be  settled  by 
Correspondence  .  .  .  ."^ 

Gardiner  spent  the  winter  of  1803-1804  at  his  home  in 
southern  Rhode  Island,  and  at  that  time  was  one  of  the 
actors  in  an  interesting  romantic  interlude.  This  young  bach- 
elor, fresh  from  the  continent,  quickly  regained  his  prom- 
inent place  in  the  social  life  of  his  home  community.  There 
the  Consul's  attention  and  fancy  was  taken  by  Miss  Nancy 
Brown,  the  daughter  of  the  former  Lieutenant-Governor 
George  Brown.  In  order  to  further  his  friendship  with  this 
young  lady  and  to  celebrate  his  return  from  Sweden,  Robert 
Gardiner  opened  his  house  for  a  splendid  dinner  over  which 
Miss  Brown  was  to  be  the  "presiding  genius." 

This  guest  of  the  evening,  who  was  destined  to  live  to 
over  ninety,  never  tired  of  describing  either  this  affair  or 
her  escort's  appearance.  She  has  left  us  a  picture  of  a  fash- 
ionable gallant,  elegantly  attired  with  fine  lace  ruffles  at 
his  wrist  and  knee  and  wearing  a  white  satin  vest  which  was 
"sprigged"  with  pink  rosebuds.  In  this  dress  and  fresh  from 
his  European  experiences  Gardiner  must  have  stood  out, 
even  in  competition  with  the  other  young  blades  from  this 
wealthy  section  of  New  England. 

^Contained  in  a  letter  (1939)  to  the  writer  from  the  Riksarkivet, 
Stockholm,  Sweden. 


SOUTH    county's   CONSUL  TO   SWEDEN  101 

The  Consul's  heavy  watch,  however,  was  missing  for  it 
had  been  confiscated  temporarily  by  his  beautiful  partner 
of  the  evening.  With  the  chain  around  her  neck  and  the 
watch  in  the  bosom  of  her  dress,  Nancy  went  to  the  dinner 
party  and  took  her  place  on  Robert  Gardiner's  right.  Al- 
though the  evening's  festivities  were  successful,  the  rapidly- 
developing  love  affair  was  soon  to  be  cut  short  by  the  atti- 
tude of  Nancy's  father. 

That  gentleman,  possibly  for  political  reasons,^  had  taken 
a  dislike  to  this  suitor  for  his  daughter's  hand.  Mr.  Brown's 
disapproval  was  clearly  evident  when  young  Gardiner,  on 
the  day  following  the  party,  paid  a  call  upon  Nancy's  fam- 
ily. At  that  time,  George  Brown  instead  of  bringing  forth 
some  of  his  fine  wines  or  Holland  cordials  as  would  have 
been  the  customary  hospitality,  served  native  apple  cider 
to  his  daughter's  guest.  Also  neither  the  silver  tankard  nor 
the  cut  glass  commonly  used  by  the  family  and  their  friends 
was  produced,  but  instead  a  tankard  and  tumblers  made  of 
common  every-day  pewter.  Years  later  Miss  Nancy  would 
conclude  her  story  of  the  incident  by  saying,  "Can  any  one 
imagine  my  mortification,  to  see  that  elegant  gentleman 
treated  in  such  a  contemptuous  way,  or  wonder  that  he  never 
came  to  see  me  again. "^  Mr.  Brown  must  have  regretted 
his  action  in  later  years,  for  his  daughter  was  fated  to  live 
out  her  long  life  —  a  spinster. 

Not  a  bit  cast  down  by  this  set-back,  however,  Gardiner's 
attention  was  soon  attracted  by  another  young  lady,  a  Miss 
Day  of  Catskill,  New  York,  whom  he  subsequently  married. 
This  event  took  place  shortly  before  the  start  of  his  ill-fated 
business  trip  to  the  West  Indies.  Two  of  Miss  Day's 
brothers,  Russell  and  Philo,  had  recently  married  or  were 

*  Lieutenant-Governor  George  Brown,  running  for  re-election,  was 
defeated  in  1800  and  1801  by  the  Republican  candidate,  former  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor Samuel  ].  Potter.  Brown's  animosity  toward  young 
Gardiner  may  have  arisen  from  the  bitter  feelings  aroused  in  the  campaign 
of  1800.  See  Wilkins  Updike,  op.  cit.,  II,  62. 

^  Caroline  E.  Robinson,  The  Gardiner s  of  Narj-agansett  (Providence, 
1919),  pp.  123-124. 


102 


RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 


soon  to  marry  Harriet  and  Emma  Gardiner,  sisters  of  the 
American  consular  official.^" 

Gardiner  found  it  necessary  to  leave  for  the  West  Indies 
in  the  late  spring  or  early  summer  of  1804  in  order  to 
straighten  out  the  affairs  that  had  called  him  home  from 
Sweden.  It  may  be  presumed  that  his  business  in  the  West 
Indies  was  finished  by  mid-summer,  when  he  sailed  from 
Guadeloupe  for  New  York.  This  voyage  was  never  com- 
pleted for  the  vessel  sank  with  all  hands  off  the  coast  of 
Charleston,  South  Carolina  in  August,  1804. 

News  traveled  slowly  in  those  days,  and  it  was  not  until 
June  18,  1806,  that  the  Vice-Consul,  Mr.  Airth,  informed 
the  Secretary  of  State  that  several  ship  captains  had  brought 
him  the  sad  story."  Six  months  later,  in  January,  1807,  he 
was  able  to  write  that  the  death  of  Robert  Champlin  Gard- 
iner had  been  confirmed  by  a  letter  from  the  latter's  father 
from  Newport,  Rhode  Island.^" 


L  &  s  I :  ui  S  « .a  &  e  f  (•   ^^  t  S  C  4 
Ai^ed  St 


,# 


^' 


1°  Wilkins  Updike,  op.  cit.,  II,  10  5. 

•^^  Contained    in   a   letter    (1939)    to   tiie   writer   from   the    National 
Archives,  Washington. 
^^  Ibid. 


103 

The  Invaluable  Axe 

by  George  Benvie 

The  interest  which  has  recently  been  aroused  in  the 
methods  of  constructing  Colonial  houses  draws  attention 
to  the  invaluable  part  played  by  the  axe.  It  was  "the  English 
carpenter's  tool  far  excellence  y"*  writes  Antoinette  F,  Down- 
ing/ "and  with  this  tool  alone  the  American  carpenter,  as 
did  his  forbears,  hewed,  squared,  and  dressed  the  great  logs 
into  beams  suitably  smooth"  for  the  home  he  was  building. 

In  the  writer's  opinion  this  excellent  book  might  have 
been  improved  by  the  inclusion  of  a  chapter  describing  the 
various  processes  through  which  the  great  logs  passed  be- 
fore they  were  fit  for  building  purposes. 

My  knowledge  of  the  subject  is  the  result  of  actually 
performing  the  work  of  hewing,  squaring  and  dressing  logs, 
some  forty  years  since,  in  the  Upper  Musquodoboit  Valley, 
50  miles  from  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia. 

In  this  Province,  until  quite  recent  times,  much  of  the 
timber  used  in  building  was  hand-hewn.  Although  the 
buildings  were  inferior  from  an  architectural  point  of  view 
the  methods  of  preparing  the  timber  were  similar  to  those 
in  use  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  before  in 
Colonial  New  England. 


^ 


FIG.  1  '--J  FtG.2 


Two  types  of  axe  were  used  in  the  process  of  converting 
logs  into  beams:  the  ordinary  wood-choppers  axe  (figure 
1 ),  which  was  used  for  the  preliminary  operations  j  and  the 
broad  axe  (figure  2),  which  was  used  for  the  final  smooth- 
ing operation. 

^  Antoinette  F.  Downing,  Earl-^  Hotnes  of  Rhode  Island  (Richmond, 
1937),  3. 


104 


RHODE   ISLAND  HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 


The  wood-chopper  goes  about  his  job  this  way.  After 
the  tree  is  felled  the  top  and  branches  are  removed  and  the 
trunk  is  propped  up  on  skids.  Two  narrow  strips  of  bark 
are  then  removed  to  leave  clear  spaces  on  which  the  width 
—  to  which  the  beam  is  to  be  hewn  —  is  marked  off  by  a 
line,  usually  "chalked"  with  the  ash  from  a  burnt  alder 
or  similar  green  wood.  ' 

Next,  the  axe-man,  standing  on  the  log,  cuts  notches  be- 
tween his  feet.  These  notches  must  be  exactly  vertical  and 
not  so  deep  that  they  cut  through  to  the  plane  marked  by 
the  "chalk"  line.  Anyone  who  has  ever  tried  to  handle  an 
axe  will  realize  that  it  takes  considerable  skill  to  perform 
these  operations. 


L1NE.-STR.UCK- WITH- CHALK  LINE. -r 

SURFACE- AFTER;  BEATING- OFF 
WITH- ORDINARY-AyE.- FIG.  1- 

SUKFACE.-AFTER.-HEW1NG-WITH, 

BROAD'AXE-FlG.a-LEAYlNG 

SMOOTHER-SURFACE- BU 

STJLL 

SHOWING 

MARKS-OF 

THE- AXE 


The  log  is  now  ready  for  "beating  off,"  the  process  of 
splitting  off  the  pieces  between  the  notches,  leaving  the  log 
rough-squared  but  about  ^  of  an  inch  wider  than  the  final 

"  In  his  shop  a  carpenter  generally  "chalks"  his  line  with  white  chalk. 
But  in  the  woods  chalk  is  not  available  so  the  woodsman  "chalks"  his  line 
in  the  following  manner.  Before  starting  to  fell  a  tree  he  starts  a  small 
fire  and  puts  in  a  stick  of  green  alder,  about  a  foot  long  and  an  inch  in 
diameter,  until  it  becomes  charred  about  Ya  inch  deep.  By  the  time  he 
has  felled  the  tree  and  removed  the  strips  of  bark  the  charred  stick  is 
cool  enough  to  "chalk"  the  line. 


THE   INVALUABLE   AXE  105 

width  as  indicated  by  the  "chalk"  line.  All  of  these  opera- 
tions are  performed  with  the  ordinary  wood-chopper's  axe. 

In  the  final  operation  the  hewer,  using  the  broad  axe, 
stands  beside  the  log — raised  on  skids — and  hews  to  the 
line,  leaving  the  surface  of  the  timber  in  a  smooth  and  fin- 
ished condition. 

The  skilled  axe-man  produces  perfectly  squared  timber: 
but  to  insure  this  result  the  first  two  sides  of  the  log  are 
checked  by  use  of  a  plumb  bob,  the  other  two  sides  by  the 
use  of  the  steel  square.  ' 

To  secure  the  best  results  logs  are  hewn  in  the  spring 
and  left  in  the  open  a  few  months  to  season.  Seasoning  gen- 
erally causes  a  slight  warping  in  which  case  the  broad  axe 
and  steel  square  are  again  brought  into  use  and  the  timber 
reshaped.  This  process  is  called:  "Taking  the  beam  out  of 
wind"  or  twist. 

Examination  of  a  number  of  old  buildings  for  the  His- 
toric American  Buildings  Survey  has  confirmed  my  opinion 
that  much  of  the  framing  was  hand-hewn:  the  less  impor- 
tant being  done  with  the  ordinary  axe  j  the  more  important, 
with  the  broad  axe.  A  splendid  example  of  the  latter  is  the 
main  girder  in  the  Cabinet  of  the  Rhode  Island  Historical 
Society,  one  piece  of  oak  48  feet  long  and  14  inches  square. 


Courtesy  of  South  County  Museum 
EARLY    TYPE    OF    POLL-LESS    SQUARE-BLADED    AMERICAN    BROAD 

AXE.  CF.   HKi^KY  c.  MBRCER,  Ancieni  Carpenter's  Tools,  BUCKS 

COUNTY   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY    (PORTLAND,    MAINE,    1929). 


Courtesy  Hisloric  American  Building  Survey,  Library  of  Congress 
DETAIL  OF  STAIRWAY,  JOHN   BROWN   HOUSE   (1786) 


107 


John  Brown's  Mansion  House  on  the  Hill 

by  Harrison  Southwick  Taft* 

In  1786  John  Brown  began  the  erection  of  "My  Red- 
Brick-Mansion-House-on-the-Hill"  as  he  described  it  in 
distinction  from  his  "Red  Brick  House"^  on  the  west  side 
of  "Ye  Towne  (South  Main)  Street"  whereat  he  lived 
up  to  1788,  from  the  year  before  his  marriage  to  Sarah 
Smith,  November  27th,  1760. 

"The  Mansion  House  on  the  Hill,"  considered  one  of 
the  finest  examples  of  early  Federal  architecture,  stands  on 
the  north  side  of  Power  Street,  between  Brown  and  Benefit 
Streets.  It  was  designed  by  John's  brother  Joseph  Brown," 
the  second  member  of  the  "Four  Brown  Brothers""*  of 
Providence  j  famous  in  Colonial  and  Revolutionary  days. 

Joseph  Brown  died  on  December  3rd,  1785 — previous 
to  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  famous  old  man- 

*  Harrison  Southwick  Taft,  Ph.B.  (Brown)  1892,  Sc.B.  (M.I.T.) 
1896-7.  Marine  Engineer  and  Naval  Architect.  Leader  of  con- 
struction crew  which  built  (1917-20)  Dry  Docks  Nos.  4,  6  and  7, 
Norfolk  Navy  Yard,  Va.,  for  which  Elizabeth,  Queen  of  Belgium  acted 
as  sponsor  at  the  dedication  exercises.  Author  of  treatises  on  concrete, 
river  and  harbor  improvements,  and  concrete  and  waterfront  construction. 
Also  of  several  historical  and  genealogical  studies  about  Rhode  Island  and 
its  noted  families  and  their  landholdings.   Member  R.  I.  H.  S. 

^  Built  in  1759,  on  land  south  of  his  father  James'  domicile,  now  a 
part  of  the  park  opposite  the  Court  House. 

-Joseph  Brown  (1733-85),  first  Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy 
(1784-5),  at  Rhode  Island  College  (since  1804  Brown  University). 
Joseph  also  designed  his  own  house  on  South  Main  Street.  In  1794  it 
was  purchased  by  Thomas  Poynton  Ives  who  became  a  partner  of  his 
brother-in-law,  Nicholas  Brown  in  the  firm  of  Brown,  Benson  &  Ives 
( 1  792) ,  which  became  Brown  &  Ives  on  the  retirement  of  George  Benson 
in  1796.  In  1801  Ives  sold  the  house  to  the  Providence  Bank  which 
occupied  the  premises  for  125  years.  Since  1926  the  building  has  housed 
the  various  firms  controlled  by  the  descendants  of  Nicholas  Brown  and 
Thomas  P.  Ives. 

""  Nicholas  Brown  (1  729-91 )  ;  Joseph  ( 1  733-8  5)  ;  John  ( 1736-1803)  ; 
Moses  (1738-1836). 


108  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

sion.  It  was  Zephaniah  Andrews*  who  carried  on  the  erec- 
tion of  the  mansion  house  to  a  successful  completion  in  1787. 

Occupation  of  the  completed  building  as  his  permanent 
residence  was  in  connection  with  the  marriage  of  Abby 
Brown,  John  Brown's  daughter,  to  John  Francis,  which 
was  celebrated  with  great  splendor,  January  1st,  1788. 

John  Brown,  the  sixth  child  of  James  and  Hope  (Power) 
Brown,  was  born  in  Providence  on  January  27th,  1736, 
presumably  in  his  parents'  house  on  lands  now  occupied 
by  the  Providence  County  Court  House.  He  is  reputed  to 
have  been  a  man  of  large  physical  proportions.  He  is  cited 
as  "A  man  of  magnificent  projects  and  extrodinary  enter- 
prise," one  of  the  real  leaders  of  his  native  city.  As  set 
forth  on  his  tombstone  he  was: 

The  Enterprising  and  Accomplished  Merchant. 

The  Tried  Patriot  and  Legislator. 

The  Universal  Philanthropist  and  Sincere  Christian. 

5|C  ^  JjC  >I^ 

The  first  commercial  ventures  of  John  Brown  were  in 
partnership  with  his  three  brothers  under  the  name  Nicholas 
Brown  &  Company,  a  firm  that  engaged  in  multifarious 
activities,  they  taking  a  leading  part  in  the  erection  of  "The 
College  Edifice"  (University  Hall  of  Brown  University) 
in  1770. 

Of  the  "Four  Famous  Brothers"  John  Brown  was  the 
most  active  one  in  the  founding  of  Brown  University  "High 
on  the  Hill  above  ye  Town"  and  held  the  ofiice  of  Treas- 
urer for  twenty-one  consecutive  years  (1775-1796).  He 
was  the  main  stay  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  whose  Meet- 
ing House  was  built  in  1774-1775  from  designs  by  James 
Summers  and  Joseph  Brown. 

Of  a  later  date  (1782),  under  his  own  name,  he  operated 
a  fleet  of  fast  sailing  vessels,  many  of  which  are  cited  as 
having  been  built  at  India  Point,  Providence.  The  most 
famous  of  his  large  fleet  was  the  GENERAL  WASH- 
INGTON, which  set  sail  from  Narragansett  Bay  in  1787 
on  the  first  voyage  ever  made  by  a  sailing  vessel  from 

*  See  page  1  1  +. 


JOHN   brown's   mansion    HOUSE  109 

Providence  to  China.    Another  of  his  famous  ships  was 
the  PRESIDENT  WASHINGTON. 

After  his  marriage  to  Abby  Brown,  John  Brown  took 
his  son-in-law  John  Francis  into  partnership  under  the 
name  of  Brown  &  Francis  —  their  ships  making  long  voy- 
ages to  any  port  in  the  world  where  a  profitable  trade 
could  be  had. 

John  Brown  was  the  principal  promoter  of  the  famous 
Providence  Bank,  as  is  so  clearlv  seen  from  his  letters 
(June-September  1791)  published  elsewhere  in  this  issue. 

He  was  an  influential  leader  in  the  movement  which 
finally  induced  Rhode  Island  to  ratify  the  Federal  Con- 
stitution. He  also  was  a  strong  advocate  of  an  adequate 
navy  to  protect  the  nation's  commerce  on  all  seas,  both  as 
a  member  of  Congress  and  as  a  private  citizen. 

The  famous  old  Mansion  House  on  the  Hill  is  located 
on  what  was  known  as  the  "Joseph  Whipple  1 8  acre  lot," 
extending  from  "Ye  Towne  ( South  Main)  Street"  easterly 
unto  the  "Highway  at  ye  Head  of  ye  Lots  in  ye  Neck" 
(Hope  Street).  Power  Lane  bounded  the  18  acre  tract 
on  the  south,  with  lands  belonging  to  the  heirs  of  Charles 
Field  on  the  north. 

The  1 8  acre  tract  consisted  of  three  lots.  The  most 
southerly  one,  fronting  on  Power  Lane,  was  originally 
assigned  to  William  Wickendenj  the  middle  section  to 
William  Mannj  the  northern  lot,  fronting  on  what  is  now^ 
Charles  Field  Street,  to  William  Burrows.  The  combined 
width — north  and  south — of  the  three  lots  was  about 
280  feet. 

On  May  10th,  1768,  Nicholas  Brown,  the  eldest  of  the 
"Four  Famous  Brothers"  purchased  that  part  of  the  1  8 
acre  "Whipple  Lot"  eastward  of  "Ye  Back  (Benefit) 
Street"  unto  what  is  now  Hope  Street.  The  purchased 
land  contained  14  acres,  less  a  small  60  by  80  foot  lot 
within  the  confines  of  the  14  acres,  then  owned  by  Nicholas 
Cooke.  The  so  called  "Nicholas  Cooke  Lot"  occupied  what 
is  now  the  northeast  corner  of  Power  and  Brown  Streets, 
being  within  the  confines  of  the  lot  upon  which  Thomas  P. 


110  RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Ives  built  his  own  "Brick  Mansion"  in  1806 — now  occu- 
pied by  his  great-grandson  Robert  Hale  Ives  Goddard. 

On  February  10th,  1769  Nicholas  Brown  sold  unto  his 
brother  John  Brown  a  1 Y2  acre  lot  as  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  14  acre  tract.  It  was  upon  this  small  sized  lot  that 
John  Brown  erected  his  famous  Mansion  house  in  1786-7. 

There  are  strong  reasons  to  believe  that  the  famous 
mansion  house  as  it  stands  today  was  not  all  built  at  the 
same  time.  In  the  first  place  the  brick  and  brick  work  of 
the  54  by  50  foot  main  structure  and  the  old  coach  house 
is  different  from  that  of  the  ell-part  of  the  present  struc- 
ture. The  bricks  used  in  building  the  first  two  structures 
are  all  of  the  same  texture  and  size  which  would  indicate 
that  they  came  from  the  same  brick  yard  and  out  of  the 
same  mix.  To  use  the  language  of  a  bricklayer,  they  are 
laid  upon  a  "One  Header  -  Three  Stretcher"  system. 

The  brick  used  in  the  construction  of  the  outside  walls 
of  the  ell-part  of  the  now  mansion  house  are  smoother  and 
a  trifle  larger  and  are  laid  upon  a  "One  Header  -  Eight 
Stretcher"  system.  Also  the  joints  of  the  brick  work  in 
the  ell  do  not  match  up  with  those  in  the  main  house  as 
they  should,  if  of  same  size  and  put  in  place  at  the  same 
time  as  those  of  the  main  house. 

Further  evidence  of  a  different  period  of  construction 
is  found  in  John  Brown's  will  —  he  dying  from  the  effects 
of  being  thrown  out  of  his  low  hung  gig  as  he  was  turning 
from  Power  Lane  into  the  "Paved  Yard"  on  the  east  side 
of  his  Mansion  House  as  tradition  tells. 

In  his  will  John  Brown  describes  his  mansion  house  as: 

"The  homestead  in  which  I  now  live  being  54  by  50  feet 
square,  three  stories  high,  with  a  deep  cellar  under  the  whole, 
and  all  brick  from  the  cellar  stone  walls  as  well  as  the  partitions 
as  the  walls  of  the  house,  together  with  the  out  houses:  viz  the 
coach  house:  kitchen:  stable:  and  wood  house  with  the  bathing 
house  and  about  1  Yz  acres  of  land  on  which  the  house  stands 
and  nearly  in  the  center.  Said  land  is  bounded  by  the  street 
on  the  west  and  on  the  south,  and  on  the  east  and  north  by 
lands  of  Messrs  Brown  &  Ives,  including  all  fences,  garden, 
paved  yard,  fruit  trees  etc.  .  .  ." 


JOHN   brown's   mansion    HOUSE  HI 

Since  John  Brown  made  no  mention  of  the  present  ell- 
part  of  structure  it  is  possible  that  it  did  not  exist  when 
he  drew  his  will  in  1  802.  On  the  other  hand  it  is  possible 
to  infer  from  the  reference  to  "All  brick  from  the  cellar 
stone  walls  as  well  as  the  partitions  as  the  walls  of  the 
house"  that  the  ell  was  in  course  of  construction  at  the  time 
of  his  decease  in  1  803.  Taking  every  thing  into  considera- 
tion the  author  is  of  the  decided  opinion  that  the  ell-part 
of  the  present  mansion  house  was  erected  at  a  date  later 
than  1803:  unless  proven  to  the  contrary. 

John  Brown  left  unto  his  wife  Sarah  a  life  interest  in 
the  homestead  and  its  adjoining  lands  with  the  provision 
that  upon  her  decease  they  were  to  become  the  property 
of  his  son  James.  He  stipulated  that  "All  Plate  and  house- 
hold furniture  belong  to  me  at  the  time  of  my  death  j  at 
Spring  Greene  and  at  Point  Pleasant  as  well  as  in  the  home 
where  we  now  live — "  was  to  become  the  property  of  his 
wife  Sarah  j  "to  be  disposed  of  by  her  to  such  of  our 
children  and  grandchildren  as  she  may  think  most  de- 
serving— " 

With  the  decease  of  Sarah  Brown — widow — on  Febru- 
ary 25th,  1825  her  son  James  Brown — bachelor — became 
possessed  in  his  own  name  of  his  father's  homestead  estate 
on  Power  Street,  the  mansion  house  as  well  as  its  1;^ 
acres  of  adjacent  grounds — including  the  garden  part  that 
lay  east  of  the  "Paved  Yard." 

In  carrying  out  the  terms  of  John  Brown's  last  testa- 
ment Sarah  Brown  his  widow,  bec^ueathed  unto  their  daugh- 
ter Sarah,  widow  of  Charles  Frederick  Herreshoff  (de- 
ceased in  1819): 

" —  all  my  linen — plate — apparel — books  and  household  furni- 
ture, meaning  thereby  to  include  the  furniture  at  Point  Pleasant 
[Poppasquash]  belong  to  me  —  and  all  other  furniture  of  any 
kind  or  nature  what  so  ever  — ." 

It  was  through  such  a  bequest  that  Sarah  Brown  Herre- 
shoff became  possessed  of  most  of  the  household  equipment 
of  the  mansion  house  in  Providence  as  well  as  at  Point 
Pleasant;    including  some  out   of  Spring   Greene:  Abby 


112  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

(Brown)  Francis  and  Alice  (Brown)  Mason  receiving  few 
of  the  personal  effects  of  their  beloved  father,  John  Brown, 

James  Brown  died  on  December  12th,  1834,  leaving 
five-sixths  of  his  estate  to  his  sister  Sarah  (  Brown)  Herre- 
shoff — one  sixth  to  his  nephew  John  Brown  Francis. 
Through  a  partition  deed  of  April  21st,  1835,  Sarah 
(Brown)  Herreshoff  became  possessed  of  John  Brown's 
"Mansion  House  on  the  Hill"  in  her  own  name. 

On  her  decease,  August  2nd,  1846,  she  bequeathed  the 
homestead  and  its  1 3^2  acres  of  land  to  her  favorite  grand- 
son James  Brown  Herreshoff,  then  twelve  years  of  age, 
with  the  provision  that  her  son  John  and  his  unmarried 
sisters  might  live  in  the  house  until  1852,  when  James 
would  be  eighteen  years  of  age. 

On  October  26th,  1852,  Hope  (Brown)  Ives — widow 
of  Thomas  P.  Ives  purchased  the  famous  homestead  and 
its  \y2  acres  of  land  from  James  Brown  Herreshoff,  the 
Herreshoff  family  thereafter  making  their  homestead  at 
John  Brown's  Point  Pleasant  Farm  on  Poppasquash,  which 
he  had  bequeathed  unto  his  daughter  Sarah  (Brown) 
Herreshoff. 

In  1854  Madam  Ives  deeded  the  mansion  house  and 
lands  westward  of  the  present  stone  wall  at  the  east  side 
of  the  "Paved  Yard"  unto  her  son  Robert  Hale  Ives. 
Unto  her  son  Moses  Brown  Ives  she  deeded  that  part 
east  of  said  wall  as  the  former  "Garden  Part"  of  the  home- 
stead lot,  now  a  part  of  the  lot  belonging  to  the  Bishop's 
House  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

Through  his  last  testament,  Robert  Hale  Ives,  deceased 
on  July  6th,  1875,  left  the  homestead  and  its  then  adjacent 
lands  to  his  daughter  Elizabeth  Amory  (Ives)  Gammell, 
wife  of  Professor  William  Gammell.  Her  beneficiaries — 
Harriet  Ives  Gammell  and  Helen  Louise  ( Gammell ) 
Herbert  —  sold  the  homestead  and  its  then  lands  to 
Marsden  J.  Perry  in  1901,  whose  estate  in  1936  sold  it 
and  its  lands  to  John  Nicholas  Brown  (the  present  owner), 
great-great-grandson  of  Nicholas  Brown,  who  purchased 
the  14  acre  Joseph  Whipple  lot  in  1768. 


113 

NOTES  AND  DOCUMENTS 
The  Founding  of  the  Providence  Bank 

(Octobers,  1791)' 
Compled  by  Hope  F.  Kane  and  W.  G.  Roelker 

Providence  merchants  and  ship-owners  engaged  in  world 
trade,  early  perceived  the  importance  of  establishing  a  bank 
in  the  city.  When  the  Bank  of  North  America  began  opera- 
tions in  Philadelphia  (  1781  ),  all  the  inhabitants  benefited 
and  the  city  acquired  a  reputation  for  punctuality  in  busi- 
ness transactions. 

In  1784  banks  were  chartered  in  Boston  and  New  York, 
and  Providence  proposed  to  do  likewise,  a  proposal  being- 
made  to  the  public  in  the  Providence  Ga'zette  and  Country 
Journal^  March  6,  1784.  But  the  time  was  not  yet  ripe, 
and  in  spite  of  the  aggressive  leadership  of  John  Brown — 
"The  Enterprising  and  Accomplished  Merchant,"  as  he  is 
described  on  his  tombstone — of  John  Jenckes  and  Deputy 
Governor  Jabez  Bowen,  the  effort  failed.  Rhode  Island 
was  to  suffer  a  final  eruption  of  paper  money  before  her 
people  recognized  the  necessity  for  sound  banking.' 

^  All  letters  quoted  are  from  the  Moses  Brown  Papers,  1  8  folio  volumes, 
in  R.  I.  H.  S.  Collections.  The  complete  file  of  the  Providence  Gazette 
is  a  part  of  the  Society's  comprehensive  collection  of  Rhode  Island  news- 
papers from  175  8  to  date. 

-  Cj.  Howard  K.  Stokes,  "Chartered  Banking  1791-1809,"  in  Edward 
Field's  State  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations  at  the  End  of 
the  Century:  A  History  (Boston,  1902),  III,  260-282.  John  Jenckes 
(Son  of  Judge  Daniel  Jenckes)  Trustee  of  Brown  University  (1774- 
1791);  member  of  the  Council  of  War  ( 1  778-1  780)  ;  and  Commissioner 
with  Rouse  Helme  to  adjust  accounts  with  the  United  States  (1787). 
A  prominent  merchant  and  fo:  many  years  a  member  of  the  General 
Assembly,  Jenckes  lived  opposite  the  site  selected  for  University  Hall 
and  was  one  of  the  managers  of  the  lotteries  to  raise  money  for  it  and 
the  First  Baptist  Meeting  House.  He  married  Hannah  Cory  of  New- 
port (1751),  Freelove  Crawford,  and  Abigail,  the  widow  of  Caleb 
Bowers,  Somerset,  Massachusetts.  He  died  January  2,  1791  the  owner 
of  large  real  estate  holdings  including  a  330  acre  farm  on  Boston  Neck, 
Narragansett. 


114  RHODE  ISLAND   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 

The  Legislature  repealed  the  Legal  Tender  Act,  Sep- 
tember 1  5,  1  789  j  Rhode  Island  finally  ratified  the  Federal 
Constitution,  May  29,  1790j  Congress  chartered  the  Bank 
of  the  United  States,  February  25,  1791 — it  did  not  open 
till  December  12,  1791:  John  Brown  believed  the  time 
had  come  to  revive  the  project  of  establishing  a  bank  in 
Providence.  Accordingly  he  and  his  son-in-law  partner, 
John  Francis,  issued  the  following  invitation: 

Providence  3 '^  June  1791 

Sir: 

An  anxious  desire  to  promote  the  commercial,  mechanical  &  manu- 
facturing Interests  of  this  town  by  the  Establishment  of  a  Bank  which 
experience  has  Taught  (where  this  Establishment  has  taken  place) 
promote  Industry  &  a  Rigid  Punctuality  in  the  Performance  of  Contracts 
— •  We  hope  the  good  Citisens  of  this  Town  will  be  impress'd  with  the 
Utility  of  sucii  an  Institution  —  In  Order  to  digest  a  Plan  the  most 
eligible  [desirable]  a  Considerable  Meeting  of  the  Gentlemen  in  this 
Town  is  desir'd  to  Convene  at  the  Representatives  Chamber  in  the 
Courthouse^  tomorrow  at  3  oclock  P.  M.  when  your  farticular  Attention 
&  Council  is  Requested — 

by  your  humbl      Servants — 

CoP.  Zephaniah  Andrews"*  Brown  &  Francis 

[Endorsement] 

from 

Brown  &  Erancis 

1791 


[John  Brown  to  Moses  Brown] 

Providence  Aug'.   1 4"\  1791 

D*".  Brother 

I  am  FulL-v  of  Your  Opinion  that  now  is  the  Time  to  Einance  a  Bank 
hear,  and  I  am  Exceeding  Sorry  that  your  are  Obloiged  to  be  out  of 
Town  tomorrow   [.]  the  Buissiness  You  are  Going  upon,  I  know  is 

^  The  Old  State  House,  erected  in  1761,  now  the  6th  District  Court 
House,  Benefit  Street. 

■*  Zephaniah  Andrews,  Chairman  of  the  Correspondence  Committee 
of  the  Providence  Association  of  Mechanics  and  Manufacturers,  an  organi- 
zation formed  in  1789  to  promote  home  manufactures  and  industry. 
A  mason  bv  trade,  builder  of  the  John  Brown  House  (1786),  business- 
man and  statesman,  Andrews  subscribed  for  the  "Mechanical  Society" 
and  for  himself. 


THE   FOUNDING   OF   THE    PROVIDENCE    BANK  115 

importent,  but  Every  hour  before  you  are  Obloiged  to  Sett  off  [,]  I  wish 
may  be  as  much  as  your  other  Dutys  will  Admit [,]  Spent  in  Delibberate- 
ing  on  the  best  possable  plan  of  our  proposed  Bank  [.]  — I  yesterday 
Inclosed  the  Baltimore  Incorporation  [charter]  of  their  Bank  with  what 
Sears  &  Eves  Ses  is  Expected  of  it  [,]  to  Mess""^  P[hilip]  &  Zacheriah 
Allin  [,]  Doct""  [Amos]  Troop  &  Decon  [Samuel]  Nightingel  [,Y 
together  with  my  proposells  of  A  Bank  hear  of  120,000  DolP.  to  be  p*^ 
half  in  Spetia  [specie]  the  First  payment  in  Octob"".  &  the  Others 
Quarterly,  &  the  Six  P.O.''  Stock  to  be  p'i  in  15  Days  After  the  Bank 
begins  to  Discount  [,]  which  is  proposed  to  be  Immediately  on  the  pay- 
ment of  the  First  Quarter  Say  1  5,000  Doll*,  when  the  Directers  are  to  be 
Chosen,  the  plates  &  paper  being  Reddy  Made,  a  Sample  of  which  I 
Inclose  You. 

by  the  proposed  plan  the  3^  &  4*'^  payments  maybe  posponed  if 
the  Directers  should  find  the  1  &  2'^  payments  in  Spetia  to  be  Suffitient 
[ — ]  which  with  the  6  P.  CK  Securitys  will  make  90,000  Dollers  [ — ] 
supposeing  the  Securitys  to  be  only  at  parr,  but  I  suppose  thev  would 
now  Command  22/6.  Cash'  which  is  12^^  P.C*.  over  parr 

I  had  first  fixed  on  only  100,000  Dollers  for  the  plan  [,]  to  be  one 
half  in  Spetia  &  one  half  in  Six  P.C^  paper  [.]  but  it  being  thought  by 
Some  that  a  Larger  Sum  would  Give  a  Grater  Cr  [credit]  to  the  Bank, 
&  be  more  likely  to  Interest  people  from  aBroad  [,]  I  alterd  it  to  1  20,000 
DolP.  perhaps  if  it  Stood  at  100,000,  and  only  the  4*^  &  last  payment 
Left  Obtional  with  the  Directers  weither  [whether]  it  shall  be  p*^.  at  the 
time  or  pospond  [,]  as  Might  then  Appear  best  for  the  Stock  holders, 
may  be  sufiitient,  &  upon  which  I  wish  your  opinion  [,]  as  Indeed  on 
the  propotion  of  Spetia  to  the  publick  Securitys  [.] — perhaps  by  making 
the  Bank  as  Near  Simmuler  [similiar]  to  the  National  Bank  as  possable, 
it  will  be  more  Poppeler  then  Aney  other  plan. 


^  Philip  Allen,  brother  and  business  associate  of  Zachariah  Allen, 
both  prominent  ship-owners  and  merchants. 

Doctor  Amos  Throop,  importer  of  dyes,  painter's  colours,  drugs,  and 
medicine,  was  first  President  of  the  Rhode  Island  Medical  Society,  first 
President  of  the  Exchange  Bank  (established  in  1801),  and  a  member 
of  the  General  Assembly.  In  1780  he  opened  a  new  Drug  Store  on  the 
site  of  the  present  Industrial  Trust  Building. 

Samuel  Nightingale,  deacon  and  treasurer  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  (Benefit  and  Benevolent  Streets),  a  merchant  who  operated  a 
store  on  North  Main  Street  opposite  St.  John's  Church. 

"  Payment  was  to  be  made  October  1,  1791,  and  quarterly  thereafter; 
one  half  in  specie — silver  or  gold;  and  one  half  in  6%  and  3%  stock 
of  the  United  States. 

"  22  shillings  and  6  pence. 


116  RHODE   ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

I  will  however  this  After  noone  Send  you,  the  Incorporation  [charter] 
of  the  National  Bank,  the  Baltimore  Bank  &  the  plan  of  the  Boston 
Bank  [,]  out  of  the  whole  You'l  [,]  if  you  please  [,]  Sketch  out  the 
best  that  Can  possable  be  Devised  for  our  Banks  Constitution  or  plan 
of  Subscription  [• — -]  I  have  no  Doubt  but  the  General  Assembly  in 
Octob^.  will  Incorporate  the  proprietors  in  a  Simmuler  Manner  to  the 
Merriland  [Maryland]  Incorporation  for  the  Baltimore  Bank, 

We  may  Forword  the  Buissiness  by  meeting  tomorrow  [.]  but  as  you 
&  W[elcome]  Arnold  will  be  absent  [,]  Gov''  [Jabez]  Bowen*  &c  [,] 
the  Buissiness  as  to  aney  absolute  Conclusition  [conclusion]  May  be 
Adjournd  [.]  I  wish  you  would  Mention  a  Day  when  you  Can 
Attend  [.]  Let  it  be  as  Farr  Forword  as  will  bring  M*"  Arnold  hoome, 
as  I  Could  wish  all  the  Council  &  Good  Sense  in  this  Buissiness  that  our 
Little  Town  will  Afford  [.]  if  You  See  Thom^  Arnold  before  you  Leave 
town  You'l  do  well  to  advise  him  to  Attend  the  Meeting  at  the  Court 
House  tomorrow  at  3.  oClke 

How  Can  a  Considerable  part  of  our  Worthey  Deceased  Brothers 
[Nicholas]"  Securitys  be  put  to  a  Better  L^se  then  in  a  Bank  of  our 
own  [.]  If  they  sell  a  part  of  them  at  12^^  or  1  5  P.C*.  advanc[e]  &  put 
them  in  a  Bank  that  probobly  will  Yeald  from  1  0  to  12  P.C.  Annuelly  [,] 

*  Welcome  Arnold,  prosperous  wholesale  and  retail  merchant;  trustee 
of  Brown  Univcrsitv  (1783-98);  and  President  of  the  Firewards  of 
Providence.  Member  of  the  General  xAssembly  (1778-98),  Speaker 
(1792-94).  He  was  instrumental  in  effecting  Rhode  Island's  ratification 
of  the  Constitution.  Liberal  patron  of  religious  and  educational  societies, 
he  attended  the  First  Baptist  Church.  He  was  one  of  five  men  in  Provi- 
dence who  kept  a  carriage,  lived  on  the  corner  of  South  Main  and  Planet 
Streets,  and  married  Patience  Greene,  niece  of  Governor  William  Greene. 

Governor  Jabez  Bowen,  Deputy  Governor  (1778-1780;  1781-1786); 
Commissioner  of  Loans  during  Washington's  administration;  Grand 
Master  of  St.  John's  Commandery  (1794-99).  An  original  Director  of 
the   Bank — President   from   December,    1808   to  October,    1811. 

Thomas  Arnold,  A.B.  (Brown)  1771,  A.M.;  Trustee  (1800-26). 
Merchant  and  lawyer,  he  was  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  ( 1  809- 
10).  He  married  Marv,  daughter  of  Obadiah  Brown,  uncle  of  the 
"Four  Brown  Brothers." 

">  Died  May  29,  1791.  See  Leffer  (Providence,  November  22,  1791) 
from  Moses  Brown  to  Champion  &  Dickason,  London.  "The  Loss  of  my 
Eldist  Brother  [Nicholas]  I  expect  you  have  [been]  made  acquainted 
with  [,]  it  only  remains  for  me  to  inform  you  in  respect  to  Browns  & 
Benson  Affairs,  I  have  no  doubt  they  are  good  but  my  Brothers  Estate 
by  the  Rise  of  publick  Stocks  Amt^  to  more  than  any  of  us  Expected  [,] 
he  hav&  at  his  Decease  upwards  of  200,000  Dollars  in  the  Various  Publick 
Securities    [.]" 


THE   FOUNDING   OF   THE   PROVIDENCE   BANK  117 

it  Certinly  will  be  an  Object  Worthy  of  Your  &  their  x4ttention  [.]  Even 
if  they  [Nicholas'  Securities]  was  to  Form  one  half  the  Bank  [.]  I  know 
not  what  they  Could  do  better  or  What  Can  possably  be  Done  better 
for  them 

as  to  our  Giting  a  Branch  of  the  National  Bank,  it  Appears  Very  Clear 
to  Me  that  we  Shall  Stand  a  Much  Graiter  Chance  of  Succeeding  in  that 
by  First  hav[in]s  Established  one  of  our  own,  than  tho  we  Remain 
slouth  Full  [slothful]  and  theirby  Induce  their  Directers  to  think  this 
Town  of  No  Suffitient  Consiquenc  [e]  to  Intitell  us  to  a  Branch,  or  an 
Office  of  Discount  and  Depossite,  [ — ]  as  the  Act  of  Congress  [provides] 
May  be  [located]  in  aney  part  of  the  Union  ware  [where]  the  Directers 
may  think  proper 

Their  was  an  Artical  in  our  Last  proposed  Bank  Subscription  &  of 
Course  will  again  be  Inserted  [,]  that  at  aney  Futer  time  when  the 
Buissiness  of  the  State  may  Require  it  [,]  new  Subscriptions  Maybe 
added 

I  fulley  Join  You  that  this  Town  must  of  Course  be  Insignifficant [,] 
and  1  mav  ad  Mizarable  in  point  of  Welth,  when  Compaird  with  the 
Four  Towns^°  in  the  Union  who  now  have  Banks  Established  [.]  but 
by  our  Exurtions  and  Forming  a  Good  &  Substantial  Foundation  for  the 
Commertial  [commercial],  Manufactoral,  &  Macanical  [mechanical], 
Riseing  [coming]  Generation  [,]  it  may  in  time  become  no  Incon- 
siderable Cappetell  [capital]  But  without  a  Spring  to  promote  Our 
Young  Men  in  Buissiness  hear,  they  must  &  will  Continue  to  go  to 
Such  places  as  will  x-\id  them  with  the  Means  of  Buissiness.  &  in  Short 
all  our  Welth  [,]  I  Mean  the  Welth  as  fast  as  Acquired  in  this  State  [,] 
must  be  Transferd  to  those  Other  States  who  by  their  Banks  promote 
all  the  Valuable  Arts  of  Mankind 

I  ad  no  more,  only  that  I  am  Your 

Brother 

J  [ohn]  B[rown] 


^^  Philadelphia,  The  Bank  of  North  America,  incorporated,  by  Con- 
gress, 1781,  by  Pennsylvania,  1782;  Boston,  1784;  New  York,  1784; 
and  Baltimore,  1790;  the  First  Bank  of  the  United  States,  February  15, 
1791,  opened  for  business  December  12,  1791. 


118 


RHODE  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


[John  Brown  to  Moses  Brown] 

Aug*.  14*'^.  1791 

D''.  Brother 

I  now  Inclose  You  the  Acts  passed  at  the  3*^.  Session  of  Congress  on 
the  4'*^.  Leaf  of  which  being  turned  down  being  p^.  232  is  the  Act  to 
Incorporate  the  Subscribers  to  the  Bank  of  the  United  States  [.]  I  allso 
Inclose  You  the  Form  of  the  Subscription  for  the  Boston  Bank,  together 
with  our  Letter  from  Mess''®.  Allins  Covering  the  Baltimore  Incorpora- 
tion (with  our  B  F^^  letter  to  them)  &  proposels  for  a  Bank  hear, 
besides  which  I  hand  You  the  plan  of  the  Bank  Lately  proposed  hear  of 
40,000 — the  one  actually  Subscribed  was  a  Little  &  but  a  Little  alterd  in 
Some  perticulers  [whi]ch  is  I  beleave  now  in  the  hands  of  Gov"".  [Jabez] 
Bowen 

torn 
[I  am]  your  Brother  &  Friend 

Jfohn]   B[rown] 


[John  Brown  to  Moses  Brown] 


D--. 


Providence  Septem   1®'   1791 


Brother,  time  is  Roleing  on — Fall  is  Now  Come — when  the  Bank, 
hear  so  Much  and  So  Long  taulked  of  ought  to  be  Soone  in  Motion  [.] 
I  wated  [waited]  for  You  &  M"".  W[elcome]  A  [mold]  to  have  a 
Meeting  and  Compleet  the  Plan  that  it  Might  be  handed  to  the  Publick 
both  hear  &  Elseware[.]  New  York  &  Boston  we  have  Reason  to  Sup- 
pose May  afford  Some  Subscribers  if  they  Like  the  plan  &  have  it  in  time 

the  1®*  Munday  in  October,  only  Next  Month  &  that  full  Late,  is 
proposed  to  Meet  at  the  Court  House  &  Subscribe  to  a  Bank  of  1  50,000 
Doll*,  payable  as  Followeth  Viz  one  half  in  Silver  &  Goald  &  half  in 
6  &  3  p''  C*  Equilly  of  the  Funded  Debt  of  the  Union  [,]  that  is  one 
Quarter  part  of  both  Spetia  &  paper  to  be  p^  on  the  S*^  [said]  First 
Munday  in  Octob""  when  the  Directers  May  be  Choose [n]  [,]  Who  is 
[are]  to  Receive  the  Money  &  paper  &  put  the  Buissiness  into  Immediate 
Action  [.]  34  to  be  p'^.  in  3  M°  [months]  after  Say  the  P*  Jan^  [,] 
Yx  3  M°.  after  that  Viz  the  First  Munday  in  April  &  the  fourth  & 
Last  Quarter  in  3  M°  after  that  Viz  the  Munday  of  July  Next  [,]  unless 
the  Directers  may  find  that  the  first  ^  May  be  Amply  Suffitient  and 
from  the  Advice  of  the  Stock  Holders  posponed  S'*  [said]  Last  Payment 

^^  Presumably  Brown  &  Francis. 


THE   FOUNDING   OF   THE   PROVIDENCE   BANK  119 

till  the  Same  May  be  wanted  [.]  it  is  allso  proposed  that  a  Subscriber  for 
One  Shear  has  One  Vote  [,]  Ten  Shears  Five  Votes  [,]  20  Shears  Ten 
Votes  [,]  40  Shears  15  Votes  [,]  &  So  on  as  the  National  Bank  is 
Fixed  [.]  No  one  body  [,]  Corporation,  Comp>'  [,]  or  person  what- 
Ever  to  have  more  than  30  Votes  in  all — ■ 

W[elcome]  Arnold  Esq''  is  now  or  most  Likely  will  this  Day  be  at 
home,  as  I  understood  yesterday  M''^  Arnold  Expected  him  Last  Even^. 

I  wish  you  Could  Attend  an  Hour  or  Two  to  [at]  Some  Suteable 
time  this  Even^  [,]  or  in  the  Morn^  if  Convenient  [,]  that  the  plan 
May  be  Concluded  and  the  publick  Advised  their  of  in  M""  Carters 
next  paper [.]^" 

Yours  &c 

J[ohn]   B[rown] 

P.  S.  I  wish  the  Approbation  of  as  Many  as  May  be  to  the  plan,  in 
Every  Respect,  Viz  the  whole  Amount  When  payable  [,]  the  Number 
of  Directors,  how  to  Regulate  the  Shears  to  the  Votes,  the  Small  Sub- 
scribers No  Doubt  will  like  it  best  to  have  as  Large  a  Shear  of  Government 
as  they  Can,  how  Many  Shears  ought  to  Intitle  a  Man  to  be  a  Directer  or 
President  with  Many  other  perticulers  [,]  is  Nessessary  to  Incorporate 
or  Git  as  General  Assent  too  as  May  be  before  its  too  Late  [.]  will  You 
Call  at  my  Store  at  1 0  oClk  to  Day  and  advise  the  Best  Mode  of  Convean^ 
a  Meeting  [.]  I  think  Coll°  [Joseph]  N[ightingale]^"'  is  Some  More 
Convinced  of  the  LUillity  of  a  Bank  hear,  then  he  was. — • 

[Endorsement] 

Moses  Brown 

at  his  house  in  the 

Neck 


^-  John  Carter,  Proprietor  and  Printer  of  T/^e  Providence  Gazette 
and  Country  Journal,  printed  at  Shakespeares  Head  [on  Meeting  Street] . 

^^  Joseph  Nightingale,  Colonel  of  The  Cadet  (formerly  Artillery) 
Company  of  the  County  of  Providence;  brother  of  Deacon  Samuel 
Nightingale;  Trustee  of  Brown  University  (1776-97).  Joseph  Night- 
ingale and  John  L  Clark  under  the  name  of  Clark  &  Nightingale  were 
active  in  the  East  India  Trade.  Joseph  Nightingale  built  the  mansion 
on  Benefit  Street,  between  Power  and  Williams  Streets,  where  John 
Carter  Brown  later  housed  his  famous  Library  of  Americana. 


120  rhode  island  historical  society 

The  Providence  Gazette  and  Country  Journal 

Saturday,  Seftember  10,  1791. 

PROPOSALS  for  a  BANK 

to  be  established  at  PROVIDENCE 

Taught  by  the  experience  of  Europe  and  America,  that  well-regulated 
Banks  are  highly  useful  to  society,  by  promoting  punctuality  in  the 
performance  of  contracts,  increasing  the  medium  of  trade,  facilitating  the 
payment  of  taxes,  preventing  the  exportation  of  specie,  and  furnishing 
for  it  a  safe  deposite,  and  by  discount  rendering  easy  and  expeditious  the 
anticipation  of  funds  on  lawful  interest,  advancing  at  the  same  time  the 
interest  of  the  proprietors: 

WE  the  subscribers,  desirous  of  promoting  such  an  institution,  do 
hereby  engage  to  take  the  number  of  shares  set  against  our  names  re- 
spectively, in  a  bank  to  be  established  in  Providence,  in  the  State  of 
Rhode-Island,  on  the  following  plan  [which  provided  for  a  subscription 
of  $160,000  —  400  shares  at  $400  each;  to  be  paid  in  to  the  directors 
quarterly,  beglning  October  1st,  one  half  in  silver  or  gold,  one  half 
in  6  per  cent  or  3  per  cent  stock  of  the  United  States.  An  arbitrary 
limit  was  set  on  the  number  of  votes  to  which  each  share  was  entitled 
so  that  ]  no  person,  co-partnership,  or  body  politic  [  would  have  more 
than  30  votes,  regardless  of  the  number  of  shares  held. 

[Nine  directors  were  to  be  chosen  from  whom  a  President  should 
be  elected  for  one  year;  the  Board  to  determine  the  manner  of  doing 
business;  to  choose  from  among  their  number  —  at  every  quarterly 
meeting  —  three  inspectors  to  inspect  the  business  of  the  Bank  for  the 
ensuing  three  months;  and  that  no  officer  or  director  be  entitled  to  any 
pecuniary  advantage  from  his  position  unless  the  profits  exceed  6  per  cent. 

[Stockholders  were  given  the  preference,  in  proportion  to  their  owner- 
ship in  the  Bank,  if  more  discounts  were  applied  for]  than  the  directors 
may  think  prudent  to  grant  [and  in  order  that  the  directors  might  know 
who  owned  stock  it  was  provided]  that  no  sale  or  conveyance  whatever  of 
any  share  .  .  .  shall  be  deemed  good,  but  such  as  may  be  made  on  the 
Bank  books. 


The  Providence  Gazette  and  Country  Journal 

Saturday,  Seftember  24,  1791. 

To  the  PUBLIC. 

ALL  Persons  desirous  of  being  concerned,  as  Stockholders,  in  the  pro- 
posed BANK  to  be  established  in  Providence,  on  Monday  the  3d  of 
October   next,   are   hereby   reminded,   that   the    Meeting   will   then    be 


THE   FOUNDING   OF  THE   PROVIDENCE   BANK  121 

punctually  held,  at  Ten  o'Clock  in  the  Morning,  at  the  Court-House — 
when  there  is  scarce  a  Doubt  but  that  the  Bank  will  be  immediately  filled, 
on  Principles  very  similar  to  those  of  the  National  Bank,  unless  any 
Alteration  should  then  be  thought  best;  that  the  Sum  in  Specie  to  be 
paid  down  on  each  Subscription  will  be  25  Dollars  at  least,  with  an 
Indulgence  not  exceeding  30  days  for  the  Remainder  of  the  first  Pay- 
ment in  Specie,  on  the  lawful  Interest  being  allowed  to  those  who  may 
"not  find  it  convenient  to  pay  a  larger  Part  down;  and  that  the  first 
Payment  of  public  Paper  may  be  put  off  to  the  Middle  of  January,  by 
any  who  may  not  have  it  by  them,  which  Deviation  can  make  no 
Difference  to  the  Stockholders,  as  the  Interest  on  the  said  public  Paper 
will  be  all  cast  to  one  Period.  It  is  with  peculiar  Satisfaction  the  Friends 
to  the  proposed  Bank  can  assure  the  Public  that  the  Institution  is  pleasing 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States,  and  that  therefore 
every  reasonable  Encouragement  from  him  may  be  expected. 

Providence,  Sep.  23,  1791. 


The  Providence  Gazette  and  Country  Journal 

Saturday,  October  1,  1791. 

To  the  PUBLIC. 

As  it  seems  to  be  the  general  wish,  that  the  BANK,  to  be  established 
in  this  town  on  Monday  next,  should  be  as  nearly  similar  to  the  National 
Bank  as  possible,  as  thereby  it  may  be  more  particularly  connected  there- 
with than  otherwise  it  could  be;  and  as  there  can  be  scarcely  a  doubt  of  the 
whole  amount  of  said  Bank  being  immediately  subscribed  for;  a  friend^* 
to  the  institution  proposes  (in  order  that  all  who  wish  to  become  stock- 
holders should  have  a  fair  opportunity  to  subscribe)  to  enlarge  the  Bank 
to  Two  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars,  as  followeth;  that  is  to  say,  five 
hundred  shares  of  four  hundred  dollars  each,  payable  two-fifth  parts  in 
silver  or  gold,  and  three-fifths  in  the  funded  debt  of  the  United  States, 
bearing  an  interest  of  six  per  cent,  though,  to  accomodate  the  subscribers, 
any  part  of  said  paper  may  be  paid  at  two  for  one  in  the  three  per  cents 
of  said  funded  debt,  with  full  liberty  to  exchange  them  at  any  time  within 
twelve  months. 

Twenty-five  dollars  only,  in  silver  or  gold,  for  each  share,  mav  be 
required  to  be  paid  down,  or  as  soon  as  the  Directors  can  be  appointed 
and  ready  to  receive  it,  and  twenty-five  dollars  more  in  one  month, 
with  interest,  which  together  make  one  quarter  of  the  specie  part  of  said 
Bank;  .  .  .  and  that  there  be  a  clause  added  to  the  proposals,  as  before 


14 


Unquestionably  this  friend  is  John  Brown  himself. 


122  RHODE   ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

printed,  nearly  as  followeth,  viz.  that  the  stock  of  the  Bank  may  be 
increased  at  any  time  hereafter,  when  a  majority  of  the  stockholders  may 
find  it  necessary  for  the  public  utility,  to  any  sum  not  exceeding  five 
hundred  thousand  dollars  ... 

Any  persons  who  may  neglect  attending  at  the  Court-House  at  the 
hour  appointed,  viz.  at  ten  o'clock  on  Monday  morning  next,  by  them- 
selves or  friends,  to  give  in  their  names,  with  the  number  of  shares, 
written  on  a  piece  of  paper,  for  which  they  wish  to  subscribe,  in  order, 
should  the  whole  number  of  shares  exceed  ^:he  five  hundred,  they  may 
be  reduced  in  some  equitable  proportion,  so  as  only  to  leave  the  said 
five  hundred  shares  in  the  whole — will  do  well  to  remember,  that  they 
can  blame  none  but  themselves  for  their  inattention  to  the  business;  and 
are  particularly  desired  to  remember,  when  the  script  of  this  Bank  may 
be  selling  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  per  cent,  profit,  in  lieu  of  five  hun- 
dred to  twelve  hundred  per  cent,  advance,  as  the  late  National  Bank 
scripts  sold,  that  they  will  have  none  to  blame  but  themselves;  for  all 
may  be  assured,  that  it  is  the  general  wish  of  all  the  promoters  of  this 
Bank,  that  the  subscribers  to  it  may  be  as  numerous  as  can  be  expected 
from  the  extent  or  wealth  of  the  State,  from  which  a  charter  is  expected. 

Provide/ice,  Sept.  30,  1791. 


The  Providence  Gazette  and  Country  Journal 

[News  Item] 
PROVIDENCE,  OCTOBER  8,   1791. 

Agreeably  to  Notice  given  in  our  last,  relative  to  the  Establishment  of 
a  BANK  in  this  Town,  about  One  Hundred  Gentlemen  met  at  the 
Court-House  on  Monday,  when  the  Business  of  the  Meeting  was  opened, 
and  Choice  made  of  WELCOME  ARNOLD,  Esq;  as  Chairman. — 
A  Plan  of  a  Constitution  was  then  presented,  and  after  having  been 
maturely  discussed  by  Paragraphs,  and  such  Alterations  made  as  were 
found  necessary,  it  passed  unanimously.  It  was  judged  most  eligible 
[desirable]  that  the  Bank  should  consist  of  625  Shares  of  Four  Hundred 
Dollars  each;  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-five  of  which  to  be  reserved 
for  the  United  States;  and  Fifty  for  this  State,  should  our  Legislature 
think  proper  to  subscribe  for  the  same.  The  remaining  450  shares  were 
then  declared  ready  for  Subscribers,  and  the  Subscription  was  imme- 
diately began.  The  Chairman  calling  on  the  Gentlemen  present  to  bring 
in  their  Subscriptions  rolled  up,  and  to  be  delivered  by  Six  o'Clock,  P.M. 
as  after  that  Hour  none  could  be  received ;  the  Time  was  most  punctually 


THE   FOUNDING   OF   THE   PROVIDENCE   BANK  123 

observed,  and  the  Subscriptions  counted  by  a  Committee  appointed  for 
that  purpose,  when  there  appeared  to  be  1324  Shares  subscribed  for. 
This  number  far  exceeding  the  prescribed  Limits,  occasioned  bv  a  large 
Subscription  from  Philadelphia,  New- York,  Massachusetts,  and  various 
Parts  of  this  State,  obliged  the  Subscribers  immediately  to  reduce  the 
Number  of  Shares,  agreeably  to  a  ^'ote  passed  previous  to  the  Subscrip- 
tion, and  it  was  accordingly  reduced  to  the  aforesaid  450  Shares. 

The  Business  of  the  Subscription  being  finished,  the  Stock-Holders 
proceeded  to  the  Choice  of  Directors;  and  the  following  Gentlemen 
were  chosen,  viz. 

JOHN  BROWN  WELCOME  ARNOLD 

JOHN  L  CLARK  NICHOLAS  BROWN 

JABEZ  BOWEN  SAMUEL  BUTLER 

MOSES  BROWN  ANDREW  DEXTER 

THOMAS  L.  HALSEV 

Tuesday  the  Directors  had  a  Meeting,  when  JOHN  BROWN,  Esq; 
was  unanimously  elected  President,  and  Mr.  OLNEY  WINSOR,  Cashier, 
for  the  Year  ensuing.  The  First  Payment  of  Specie  was  completed  on 
Wednesday,  and  the  Bank  will  be  ready  to  receive  Proposals  for  Discount 
on  Mondav  next. 


^^  Directors  not  previously  identified:  John  Innes  Clark,  member 
of  the  firm  of  Clark  and  Nightingale,  owner  of  many  privateers  during 
the  Revolution,  he  served  with  John  Brown,  Jabez  Bowen,  Joseph  Night- 
ingale, and  others  as  a  committee  to  supervise  the  construction  of  two 
ships  for  the  Revolutionary  Navy.  Trustee  of  Brown  L^niversity  (1782- 
1  808)  ;  Warden  of  St.  John's  Church  ( 1  790)  ;  and  the  President  of  the 
Bank  (1803-1811). 

Samuel  Butler,  prosperous  merchant  who  began  his  business  career  as 
a  cobbler  and  store  keeper.  Influential  in  promoting  the  settlement  of 
the  West  Side,  he  was  instrumental  in  making  tenable  much  of  the  marsh 
land  along  the  Cove.  He  acquired  considerable  property  in  the  vicinity 
of  lower  Weybosset  and  Westminster  Streets  including  a  portion  of  the 
sites  of  the  Arcade  and  the  new  Industrial  Trust  Building.  Overseer  of 
the  Poor,  Assessor  of  Taxes,  and  Member  of  the  Town  Council  of 
Providence,  the  one  member  permitted  from  the  West  Side. 

Nicholas  Brown  (1769-1841),  son  of  Nicholas  and  nephew  of  John 
and  Moses;  married  first,  Ann  Carter  (daughter  of  John  Carter,  the 
printer,  and  mother  of  John  Carter  Brown)  and  second,  Mary  Bowen 
Stelle.  Member  of  the  firm  of  Browns  &;  Benson,  later  Brown  &  Ives, 
in  1804  he  gave  $5,000  to  Rhode  Island  College  for  the  endowment 
of  a  Professorship  of  Orator\'  and  Belles  Lettres.    In  accordance  with  the 


124  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

[Advertisement] 

BANK  SCRIPTS. 


HOPPIN  &  SNOW^^ 

Are  in  Want  of  Twenty-five  Providence  BANK 

SCRIPTS,  for  each  of  which  they  will  give 

Forty-five  Dollars  in  Cash,  payable  on  Delivery 

of  the  Scripts. 


vote  of  the  Corporation  that  the  donor  of  $5,000  would  be  entitled  to 
name  the  college,  the  name  was  changed  to  Brown  University  on 
September  6,    1804. 

Andrew  Dexter,  merchant  and  manufacturer.  In  1786  together  with 
Daniel  Anthony  and  Lewis  Peck  he  formed  a  company  to  engage  in 
cotton  spinning  and  manufacturing,  and  built  (1787)  the  first  spinning 
jenny  made  in  the  United  States,  which  was  set  up  in  the  Market  House 
on  Market  Square.  In  1793  he  operated  a  "New  Cheap  Store  for 
Country  Merchants  and  Others  .  .  .  between  the  Great  Bridge  &  the 
Baptist  Meeting  House." 

Thomas  L.  Halsey,  wealthy  Providence  citizen;  French  consular  agent 
in  Rhode  Island  during  the  Revolution;  Commissary  General  of  the 
French  troops.  He  married  Sarah  Bowen,  daughter  of  Dr.  Ephraim 
Bowen,  and  in  1801  built  the  Thomas  Halsey  house  on  the  west  side 
of  Prospect  Street  north  of  Barnes  Street,  now  owned  bv  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
William  Lippitt  Mauran. 

Olney  Winsor,  Cashier  1791-1810,  (Son  of  Samuel  Winsor,  pastor 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church  [1759-1771]).  Trustee  of  Brown  Uni- 
versity (1798-1837).  Olney  Winsor  conducted  a  Book  Store  and  later 
became  a  partner  in  Jenckes,  Winsor  &  Co.,  merchants.  When  cashier 
Winsor  resided  at  the  Bank  on  the  South  Side  of  Hopkins  Street.  He 
married  Freelove  Waterman  (1777)  and  later  Hope  Thurber  (1784). 
He  compiled  a  Genealogy  of  the  Winsor  Familv. 

^'"'  Colonel  Benjamin  Hoppin  and  Samuel  Snow,  auctioneers  and  com- 
mission merchants  doing  business  as  Hoppin  &  Snow,  opposite  the  Market 
House.  Hoppin  was  Colonel  of  the  Providence  Countv  Militia,  Collector 
of  Taxes  in  1781  ;  was  appointed  "Vendue  Master"  (public  auctioneer) 
of  the  City  of  Providence;  and  a  corporator  of  the  Beneficent  Congre- 
gational Church  (1785);  married  Anne  Rawson.  After  the  dissolution 
of  the  partnership  of  Hoppin  &  Snow  (1793),  he  continued  in  business 
with  his  son  Benjamin,  Jr.  Captain  Samuel  Snow,  A.B.  (Brown)  A.M., 
Captain  of  the  First  R.  I.  Regiment  of  Continental  Infantry,  formerly 


THE   FOUNDING   OF   THE    PROVIDENCE    BANK  125 


To  the  PUBLIC. 

THE  BANK  established  in  this  town,  on  Monday  last,  will  begin 
its  operation,  at  the  BANK-HOUSE,  on  the  south  side  of  the  new  paved 
street,  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Governor  Hopkins's  Lane,  on 
Monday  next. 

As  public  notice  was  given  for  a  general  attendance  at  forming  the 
Constitution  of  the  Bank,  it  may  be  expected  that  every  inhabitant  will 
be  desirous  of  the  promotion  and  prosperity  of  the  institution,  as  thereby 
the  convenience  and  interest  of  the  inhabitants  in  general  will  be  greatly 
assisted,  especially  if  every  class  of  citizens  shall  deposite  their  money  for 
safe  keeping  in  the  vaults  of  the  Bank,  and  either  give  their  checks  thereon 
for  their  daily  transactions,  or  take  out  Bank  Notes  to  the  amount  of 
their  deposites. 

It  is  hoped  and  expected,  that  all  persons  who  may  transact  any  busi- 
ness with  the  Bank  will  attend  to  the  strictest  punctuality  as  the  most 
minute  exactness  in  the  discharge  of  every  contract  will  be  expected. 

Although  the  business  of  the  Bank  must  be  conducted  with  great 
caution,  at  the  same  time  it  will  be  the  object  of  the  Managers  that  every 
possible  convenience  be  given  to  those  who  may  apply  for  discount;  they 
therefore  propose  to  discount  twice  a  week,  as  at  Philadelphia  and  New- 
York,  viz.  on  Tuesdays  and  Fridays;  the  proposals  for  discount,  for 
thirty  days  and  three  days  of  grace,  for  notes  or  other  securities  made 
payable  in  Bank,  must  be  lodged  with  the  Cashier  on  the  days  previous 
to  the  discounts,  viz.  on  Mondays  and  Thursdays;  and  every  such  note 
or  other  security  must  be  supported  by  one  good  and  sufficient  endorser 
at  least,  living  in  this  town,  so  as  to  be  perfectly  satisfactory  as  to  a 
certainty  of  the  most  punctual  compliance  with  the  tenor  thereof;  or, 
in  lieu  of  such  notes  or  other  securities,  a  deposite  of  the  funded  debt 
of  the  nation,  or  other  valuable  paper,  or  plate,  will  be  received.  Large 
discounts  cannot  be  expected,  until  the  stock  of  the  Bank  be  increased  by 
further  payments  of  the  Stockholders. 

The  Bank  will  be  open,  and  ready  for  receiving  and  paying  money, 
at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  continue  open  till  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  on  every  day,  Sundays  excepted. — Should  any  person  about 
to  leave  town,  or  from  other  causes  wish  to  exchange  Bank  Notes  for  specie 
at  any  other  hour,  it  is  hoped  that  every  person  having  specie  by  him  will 

of  the  firm  of  Benjamin  and  Samuel  Snow,  merged  with  the  Hoppin 
firm  in  1  790 ;  he  engaged  in  the  China  trade,  voyaged  to  China  in  1 795, 
and  was  appointed  consul  at  Canton  ( 1  798) .  He  was  an  original  member 
of  the  Rhode  Island  Society  of  Cincinnati,  Secretary  (1812),  and  first 
Captain  General  of  St.  John's  Commandery. 


126  RHODE   ISLAND   HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

readily  accommodate  in  such  cases,  as  all  mav,  should  thev  choose,  obtain 
specie  for  notes  the  moment  the  Bank  shall  open. 

By  Order  of  the  Directors, 

OLNEY  WINSOR,  Cashier. 

Provide/ice,  Oct.  7,  1791. 


[Notice  of  first  meeting  of  Directors, 
John  Brown  to  the  directors  of  the  Bank] 

Gentlemen 

As  no  time  has  beene  Agreed  on  by  the  Directors  what  Hour  they 
will  Attend  at  the  Bank  to  Agree  on  the  Several  Proposalls  for  Discount, 
I  wish  a  General  Attendence  of  You  all  at  the  Bank  at  5.  oClk  this 
Afternoone,  to  Deside  on  the  proposall  that  are  &  Shall  be  Made  this 
Dav,  &  allso  to  Agree  on  what  kind  of  paper  Shall  be  Rec''.  as  Depossites, 
with  anev  other  Buissiness  that  May  Require  Investigation 

I  wish  You  Gentlemen  for  a  Short  time  at  Least  would  Meet  at  the 
Bank  for  half  an  Hour  at  Noone  &  half  an  Hour  toward  Even^,  when 
Anev  Buissiness  of  Importence  May  be  Communicated  to  Each  Other.  If 
we  are  all  once  Conveand  the  Above  or  Aney  More  Eligable  [desirable] 
plan  of  Government  Mavbe  Discused  &  Agreed  to  for  the  Gen^  Good — - 

I  am  Gentlemen  Your  Ob*. 
Humble  Serv*. 

John  Brown 

BankOctob^  10"\  1/2  after  2.  oClk 

1791 
The  Directors  of  the  Bank 


The  Providence  Gazette  and  Country  Journal 

October  15,  1791. 

[News  Item] 

Scrips  in  the  Bank  of  Providence  have  this  Week  been  sold  at  One 
Hundred  per  Cent.  Advance. — The  Bank  began  to  discount  on  Tues- 
day last. 


the  founding  of  the  providence  bank  127 

The  Providence  Gazette  and  Country  Journal 

October  22,  1791. 
[Advertisement] 

WANTED  IMMEDIATELY,  BY 
BROWN  and  FRANCIS, 

for  'vchich  a  generous  Price  will  be  paid  in  CASH 
Good  Ox  Beef,  Pork  and  Barley. 


THEY  HAVE  FOR  SALE 

BOHEA  TEA,  in  Quarter,  Half  and 

Whole  Chests;  .  .  . 

CHINA  WARE,  of  Various  Sorts,  .  .  .    [etc.] 

All  the  above  mentioned  Articles  they  will  sell  at  as  low  Prices  for 
Cash,  Boston,  New-York,  Philadelphia,  or  Providence  Bank-Notes,  or 
the  public  Securities  of  the  Continent,  or  Four  New-England  States, 
as  can  be  bought  elsewhere  in  America,  as  they  are  the  original  Importers, 
and  particularly  wish  to  encourage  the  Inhabitants  of  this  State,  and  their 
neighbors  of  Massachusetts,  Connecticut  and  Vermont,  to  frequent  the 
Town  of  Providence,  so  much  nearer  and  convenient  than  New-York  or 
Boston. — They  beg  Leave  to  remark,  that,  as  a  Bank  is  now  established 
in  this  Town,  the  Citizens  will  be  enabled  to  pay  on  all  occasions  Cash 
for  Country  Produce. 

Proz'idefice,  Oct.  19,  1791. 


The  Providence  Gazette  and  Country  Journal 

Saturday,  October  29,   1791 
[News  Item] 

The  Public  may  be  assured,  that  the  Notes  of  the  BxANK  of  this  Town, 
signed  by  JOHN  BROWN,  as  President,  and  OLNEY  WINSOR,  as 
Cashier,  are  at  all  Times  punctually  paid,  when  presented  at  the  BANK: 
— Therefore  all  Persons  may  safely  receive  them  as  Silver  and  Gold, 
they  being  much  more  convenient  for  Carriage  and  safe  Keeping. 


128  rhode  island  historical  society 

The  Providence  Gazette  and  Country  Journal 

April  7,  1792 

[Advertisement] 

PROVIDENCE  BANK 

AT  a  Meeting  of  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  PROVIDENCE 
BANK,  on  Thursday  the  5th  Instant,  a  Dividend  for  the  first  Half  Year 
was  declared,  at  the  Rate  of  Eight  per  Cent,  per  Annum,  on  the  whole 
funded  Stock  of  the  Bank,  and  on  the  first  and  second  Specie  Payments 
made  thereto;  which,  agreeably  to  the  Constitution,  will  be  paid  to  the 
Stockholders  on  Demand. 

By  Order  of  the  President  and  Directors. 

OLNEY  WINSOR,  Cashier. 


Doctoral  and  Masters'  Theses 
Relating  to  Rhode  Island 

Presented  at  Brown  University  in  the  Departments  of 

Economics,  History,  Political  Science,  and  Social  Science; 

on  deposit  in  the  John  Hay  Library 

Compiled  by  Hope  F.  Kane* 

Doctoral  Theses: 

Marguerite  Appleton,  Relations  of  the  Corporate  Colony  of  Rhode  Island 
to  the  British  Government.    [Providence]    1928.    292  p.  map. 

Carol  Aronovici,  Som.e  nativity  and  race  factors  in  Rhode  Island. 
[Providence]    1911.    31   p.  Tables. 

fBruce  M.  Bigelow,  The  Commerce  of  Rhode  Island  with  the  West 
Indies  before  the  American  Revolution.   [Providence]    1930.  2  v. 

Marion  E.  Bratcher,  Social  investigation  of  seven  rural  towns  in  Rhode 
Island.  [Providence]  1916.  355  p.,  maps.  Treats  of  Burrillville, 
Glocester,  Foster,  Scituate,  Coventry,  West  Greenwich,  and  Exeter. 

Harold  S.  Bucklin,  A  Survey  of  certain  State  Institutions  for  the  Care  of 
Delinquents^  Dependents,  and  Defectives.  [Providence]  1918. 
674  p.,  tables. 

*A.B.  (Brown)   1927,  A.M.  (Radcliffe)   1928,  Ph.D.  (Brown)   1930. 

fTemporarily  withheld   from  circulation. 

jPublished. 


Cli fiord  C.  Hubbard,  Constituthjiial  development  in  R/iotle  Island. 
[Providence]    1926. 

Mrs.  \'cra  R.  R.  Kilduff,  An  Analysis  oj  the  develofmeiit  of  the  Canadian 
America)!  Trade.   [Providence]    1938.  388  p. 

fHoward  Kemble  Stokes,  The  Finances  and  Adtnin4stration  of  Provi- 
dence. Baltimore,  The  [ohns  Hopkins,  Press,  1903.  [  fohns  Hop- 
kins Universitv  Studies  in  History  and  Political  Science,  Extra 
\'olume  XXV.]  464  p.  Chapters  4,  5,  and  6  were  written  originally 
as  a  doctoral  thesis  at  Brown  Universitv. 


Masters'  Theses: 

Adolph  G.  xAbramson,  Forces  affecting  the  geographical  distribution  of 
the  cotton  textile  industry  in  the  United  States.  [Providence]  1936. 
106  p. 

Robert  Harry  Ferguson,  Textile  unions  in  Rhode  Island.  [Providence] 
1940.  221  p. 

f  Editha  Hadcock,  The  labor  frobletn  in  the  Rhode  Island  cotton  industry. 
[Providence]    1931.  167  p. 

X'TJie  Letter  Book  of  Esek  Hopkins  Commander-in-chief  of  the  United 
States  Navy  1775-1777 ,  edited  by  Alverda  S.  Beck.  Providence, 
Rhode  Island  Historical  Society,  1932.  1  5  1  p. 

Robert  Cooper  Krapf,  History  of  the  zvoolen  and  zcorsted  industry  in 
Rhode  Island.   [Providence]    1938.    1  54  p. 

Constance  Morrison,  Role  of  tcomen  in-  Rhode  Island  in  the  19th  century. 
[Providence]    1940.  63  p. 

tSarah  I.  Morse,  A  study  of  still  biifbs  and  neo-natal  deaths  in  Woon- 
socket^  Rhode  Island  during  .  .  .  1925.  Providence,  Child  Welfare 
Division,  R.  I.  State  Board  of  Health,  1926.    26  p. 

Gran\ille  T.  Prior,  The  French  Canadians  in  Nezv  England,  [Provi- 
dence]   1932.  2  V. 

^Theodore  Foster'' s  Minutes  of  the  Convention  held  at  South  Kitigstozvn^ 
Rhode  Island,  in  March,  1790,  zvhich  failed  to  adopt  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  U nited  States,  Transcribed  with  annotations  by  Robert 
C.  Cotner.  Providence,  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society,  1929.  99  p. 

Alice  M.  Towsley,  A  study  of  intermarriage  in  Stamford,  Connecticut, 
and  Woonsocket,  Rhode  Island.   [Providence]    1940.  61   p. 

Howard  W.  Wilson,  An  index  of  i/zdustrial  acti-vity  in  Rhode  Island. 
I  Providence]    1931.    112   p.' 

Joe  H.  Wilson,  Soldier  relief  -zcork  in  Rhode  Island  during  the  Civil  War. 
[Providence]    1931.  84  p. 


JUH  li  '^'^^ 


X